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WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, JANUARY 29, 2025

Writer's picture:  Olivia M. Bannan Olivia M. Bannan




Gospel

Mark 4:1-20

On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea. A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land. And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them, “Hear this!  A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed 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 and it produced no grain. And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold.” He added, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”


And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables. He answered them, “The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that

    they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven.”

Jesus said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables? The sower sows the word.These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy. But they have no roots; they last only for a time.Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.”


REFLECTION

But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold..


No matter how mundane or routine, every day is a radical encounter of a human soul with the grace of Jesus.


Good soil is needed for a healthy flowerbed, vegetable garden or citrus trees. Seeds take root and find their nourishment and water as far as their roots will take them. We see His creation daily.


God made each one of us for a purpose. Our final destination is eternal life with Him. So, what happens when life is not what we expected, people betray us, we are all alone and doubt and fear creep in?


If we find ourselves on a rocky path, surrounded by obstacles, thorns, weeds all around us, bitterness, bad thoughts, anger, violence and all that can be thrown at us by Satan and our poor choices, bring yourself to His garden. In the Garden of Gethsemane His torment began and this is where you can find His many graces sown in His compassion and mercy: where you can see His anguished face as He asks you to sit with Him and pray. Let it be an occasion to draw closer to Christ as you visit with Him.


The great tiller of souls loves you and wants you to be with Him. Let His Word take root in you. Be patient. Trust in Him. After all, He created you for Himself. Why would He not continue to prepare you for His Kingdom?


God Bless you

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