Gospel: Luke 8:4-15
As a great crowd gathered, and people came to him from every town, Jesus began teaching them with a story: “The sower went out to sow the seed. And as he sowed, some of the seed fell along the way, was trodden on, and the birds of the sky ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground; and no sooner had it come up than it withered, because it had no water. Some seed fell among thorns; the thorns grew up with the seed and choked it. But some seed fell on good soil and grew, producing fruit, a hundred times as much!” And Jesus cried out, “Listen then, if you have ears to hear!”
The disciples asked him, “What does this story mean?” And Jesus answered, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God. But to others it is given in the form of
stories, or parables, so that, seeing, they may not perceive; and hearing, they may not understand.
Now, this is the point of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the wayside are people who hear it; but immediately, the devil comes and takes the word from their minds, for he doesn’t want them to believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are people who receive the word with joy; but they have no root; they believe for a while, and give way in time of trial. Among the thorns are people who hear the word, but, as they go their way, they are choked by worries, riches, and the pleasures of life; they bring no fruit to maturity. The good soil, instead, are people who receive the word, and keep it, in a gentle and generous mind, and, persevering patiently, they bear fruit.
Reflection
Jesus is an excellent Teacher.
Jesus never turns down requests that He explain His teachings further. He delights in being questioned, especially if those who do so genuinely seek enlightenment. And so He explained His parable of the seeds that fell on different grounds, which seemed ordinary and mundane to the casual observer. Yet the more profound significance of the parable is that it has a realism that could help His hearers respond accordingly to His teachings. Jesus is an excellent Teacher. All we have to do is ask Him and allow Him to teach us the way. But is He the Teacher we follow, or do we let this world's "false teachers" dictate what to do?
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