Weekly Gospel Reflection

In this week's Gospel, we encounter Jesus' parable of the sower. Jesus tells a story about a sower who scatters seed, which falls on different types of ground, resulting in varying outcomes. Some seed falls on a path and gets eaten by birds, some falls on rocky ground and quickly withers away due to a lack of roots, some falls among thorns and gets choked, and some falls on good soil and produces a fruitful harvest.

This parable directly addresses how we respond to the Word of God. 

The path represents those whose hearts are hardened and closed off to God's message. They are easily swayed by worldly distractions and fail to grasp the depth and significance of the Word.

The rocky ground symbolizes those who initially receive the Word with joy but quickly lose faith when faced with persecution or difficulties. The thorns represent those whose hearts are entangled with the worries and concerns of life, making it challenging for them to prioritize and nurture their relationship with God. 

On the other hand, the good soil symbolizes those with open and receptive hearts, who not only receive the Word but also understand it and allow it to bear abundant fruit in their lives.

In essence, this passage calls us to reflect on how we respond to Jesus' teachings. Do we hear His words and let them fade away? Do we listen to His words but struggle to live by them consistently? Or do we truly open ourselves to His words, taking them to heart and integrating them into our daily lives?

Another metaphor for this is the image in the Sistine chapel by Michelangelo – the creation of Adam. In this image we see God the father reaching out to Adam, humankind. All the time God is reaching out to us. Whether we realise it or not, we are often like Adam -  leaning back and leaving God to do the heavy lifting. Faith is an invitation by God for us to accept. It is not being forced upon us. 

However, the rewards of reaching forwards to Jesus are worthwhile. Consider the story of Zacchaeus, who climbed a tree to see Jesus, only to have Jesus invite Himself to Zacchaeus' house. Or think of the miracles performed for those who displayed unwavering faith, such as the blind man who regained his sight, the deaf who opened themselves to listening to Jesus, or the paralytic who not only walked but also spread Jesus' message throughout the land. These individuals actively sought Jesus and experienced his love in a unique way. 

This parable challenges us to reflect on our daily habits as people of faith. Do we engage in regular prayer? Is spirituality an integral part of our lives? Do we express gratitude to God for His blessings? Do we turn to God in times of difficulty? Are we individuals who seek more from God, or do we ask how we can live out Jesus' mission?

Dear Lord,

Forgive me for letting the noise of this world drown out your voice. I’ve felt distant from you, and I long to draw near to my Heavenly Father once again.

 I know you are here with me now as I pray. Help me sense your loving presence and listen as you speak.

In the busyness of daily life, I sometimes forget to stay connected to you through prayer. 

Help me align my heart with yours. 

I choose to find moments throughout my day to spend with you, listening to what you have to say. 

Help me tune into your voice above all else.

 Thank you for the peace that comes when I take the time to really listen. 

St John Vianney, 

Pray for us

By Jonathan Rooney. Prayer written by Kristine Brown (crosswalk.com)