SATURDAY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME SEPTEMBER 18, 2021

MASS READINGS:

A reading of the holy Gospel according to Lk 8:4-15

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:

"embrace it (the Word) with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.”

In Psalm 126 we are told, “Without the Lord, we labor in vain.”

The Lord gives us many gifts; He is the source of all our joy. However, do we throw His Word to the wind?

Knowing the commandments does not mean we do not hang around evil people, thieves, gossipers, or adulterers. If on Sunday we receive the good seed of salvation but by that evening we have slandered or gotten testy and impatient or ran over people, then who are we?

What we do on the outside reveals whether God‘s seed landed on the path, the rock, the thorns or fertile ground.

May we tend to the Word in us by not oppressing, stealing, or lying. But rather respecting, giving thanks and praise, feeding and helping the poor and the oppressed.

All the good seed will certainly die if we allow it to be stolen and not allow it to grow. However, God is so good, that on this pilgrimage we are given many chances, so be vigilant that we do not fall into temptation but avoid all occasion of sin.

We pray for all our priests as this is our calling. We pray for one another as that is our philosophy and blessing.

God takes no pleasure in our defilement or death. So let us persevere in allowing the Word of God to grow in us.

God bless you.