Parable of the Sower

The Sunday Gospel [July 10, 2011]

Matthew 13:1-23

1One day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. 2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. 3And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. 5Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, 6and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. 7Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. 8But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. 9Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Reflection

“And he spoke to them at length in parables.” ~ v. 3

If you are like most people, you remembered this one because it featured a compelling memorable story. And this, as the title of a recent business book puts it, produced a message that is Made to Stick. Jesus was a master of “sticky” messages, parables like today’s Gospel reading of the sower and the seed.

Jesus’ parables stick with us because they open our minds and invite us into the story, which, if we have ears to hear, is endlessly deep. Each parable is like the seed in today’s Gospel – alive, good in every season, and capable of yielding an abundant harvest year after year, if the soil is receptive.

In a way, Jesus himself is the most wondrous parable of all. His life, to quote another book title, is truly The Greatest Story Ever Told. The whole gospel story presents the gripping drama of a Father who longs to save his children; about his Son, whose love moves him to carry out the ultimate rescue mission; about the Holy Spirit who empowered Jesus and now fills and transforms us into the likeness of Christ.

And now that greatest of stories continue on in each us. Will its message stick? It’s up to us.

“Welcome, Master of the harvest! Sow your word in every part of me. Grow whatever crop you desire. I want to know you and love you more each day.”

Credits: the WORD among us

“God cares about the big things and the little things in our life. No matter what.” ~ John Hull

Source: The Reflection is from Bro. Abel Navarro (you can visit his blog at http://myblogabelnavarro-abel.blogspot.com/).