When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable. “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold.” After saying this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”
Then his disciples asked him what the meaning of this parable might be. He answered, “Knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you; but to the rest, they are made known through parables so that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.
“This is the meaning of the parable. The seed is the word of God. Those on the path are the ones who have heard, but the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, but they have no root; they believe only for a time and fall away in time of temptation. As for the seed that fell among thorns, they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit. But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.”
REFLECTION
The seed is the word of God.
But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.”
The blood of St Januarius (San Gennaro) is expected to liquefy three times each year.
On his day of martyrdom, September 19, around 305 AD during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Diocletian.
On the first Saturday of May marking the day his remains were moved to the city of Naples
On December 16 commemorating the anniversary of the 1631 eruption of Mount Vesuvius, when the saint's intercession was credited with saving Naples.
Januarius is believed to have been born into a wealthy aristocratic family in the city of Benevento, located about 150 miles southeast of Rome, via the Appian Way. Little is known for certain about Januarius’ childhood and life, aside from what was recorded centuries later in various legends. One legend states that he became a priest at the age of fifteen in Benevento and the bishop of either Benevento or Naples at twenty.
St Januarius lived during a time of persecution. Following Christ could cost a person his life. The seed of the Lord had fallen on good soil in his heart and, therefore, his faith was not shallow, did not recoil during times of suffering, nor did fear, lack of comfort or concern for his safety allow him to cower when faced with death. He bore fruit in the thorns of life. He persevered when following Jesus became difficult.
During Diocletian's ruling, Christian clergy were especially targeted: bishops, priests and deacons. Januarius was arrested after coming to support his fellow Christians. At first Bishop Januarius of Benevento went to visit them and in the process was arrested and sentenced to death. He first was exposed to wild beasts but they refused to attack him. He was then beheaded at Pozzuoli, near Naples.
St Januarius did not abandon Christ, never compromised his faith. The Word of God took root so deeply in him that persecution and the threat of death could not uproot it.
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