Jan. 29, 2014 Wednesday: 3rd Week in Ordinary Time A
God the Sower
We all have heard the Parable of the Sower from today’s gospel many times in the course of our lives. When reflecting on it, I have usually asked myself what kind of ground have I prepared to receive the seed, the word of God? This is a question well worth praying over with total honesty and truthfulness.
As I hear the parable today, however, another perspective jumps into my mind and heart. It is the perspective of the sower, the farmer. This person desperately wants the seed to flourish and bear much fruit. His livelihood depends on it. I would think such a person would be more careful than to throw the seed on the pathways, rocky ground, and where thorns are already growing.
But the sower of the word is no ordinary farmer. It is God who sows his word in the hearts of all people. This is God who desperately wants us to respond to his invitation of love with love in return. He is rooting for us with wild abandon. Even when we have not done a good job of preparing the ground for his presence in our lives, he is sowing the seeds with hope that his grace and love will touch our hearts. How lucky are we that God will spare no expense, will sow seeds at all times and in all places to let us know his love for us.
—David McNulty is the Provincial Assistant for Advancement, Chicago-Detroit Province Jesuits
www.jesuitprayer.org
We all have heard the Parable of the Sower from today’s gospel many times in the course of our lives. When reflecting on it, I have usually asked myself what kind of ground have I prepared to receive the seed, the word of God? This is a question well worth praying over with total honesty and truthfulness.
As I hear the parable today, however, another perspective jumps into my mind and heart. It is the perspective of the sower, the farmer. This person desperately wants the seed to flourish and bear much fruit. His livelihood depends on it. I would think such a person would be more careful than to throw the seed on the pathways, rocky ground, and where thorns are already growing.
But the sower of the word is no ordinary farmer. It is God who sows his word in the hearts of all people. This is God who desperately wants us to respond to his invitation of love with love in return. He is rooting for us with wild abandon. Even when we have not done a good job of preparing the ground for his presence in our lives, he is sowing the seeds with hope that his grace and love will touch our hearts. How lucky are we that God will spare no expense, will sow seeds at all times and in all places to let us know his love for us.
—David McNulty is the Provincial Assistant for Advancement, Chicago-Detroit Province Jesuits
www.jesuitprayer.org
