WEDNESDAY OF THE SIXTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME JULY 20, 2022

MASS READINGS

A reading of the holy Gospel according to Mt 13:1-9

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

REFLECTION

"A sower went out to sow."

"Oorah" cry out the marines.

"Remember the Alamo" cried out General Sam Houston's troops as they routed and captured Santa Anna at the the Battle of San Jacinto.

"The rebel yell" was an ugly banshee shrill meant to intimidate the enemy.

"They cried out to God in the battle. He heeded their prayer, because they put their trust in Him". ( 1 Chronicles 5:20)

Prayer Warriors throughout the world can be heard crying out to God as they plant His seeds. What do battle cries and sowing of seeds have to do with one another? When we sow seeds of faith, we are in a battle for souls. We might not engage a person with banshee cries or loud "oorahs" but we plant seeds, knowing that we are in battle.

We have all seen the flowers, weeds, grass growing in the middle of sidewalks, on hilltops, and in places that make you wonder, "How did that happen?"

We sow the Word of God, not knowing how far the seed falls into the soul of one who is in search of God, the unbeliever who thinks he has no needs or wants for God or the one who wants to live a better life and find a new joy but does not know how.

Our battle is headed by the Holy Spirit. He is tender and persuasive. Let Him fill you with His spirit and let Him lead the charge as we go out and make disciples of all nations by sowing seeds of love.

God Bless You