July 24, 2019

Mt 13: 1-9

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away.

Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!”

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

I wonder…

I have been a Youth Worship leader at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church for 14 years (fun fact – I married Presbyterian clergy.)

Today’s Gospel is a favorite of the group.  Telling the story involves acting out the passage with play figures and asking “I wonder” questions.  The adult asks, “I wonder… who is the sower?” “Jesus!” they all answer. It’s a Bible story, after all.  But then we go a little deeper and we wonder what the seeds might represent. Littler ones stay concrete – actual seeds.  But older children might bring up that *seeds* are gifts from God like love, generosity, or mercy. Every now and then, a particularly insightful child even wonders if the seeds are ideas for action.

For me, I wonder…  Am I offering rocky ground or rich soil to offered gifts? Where are the thorns in my response to Jesus? Where do my roots run deep, and what fruit will they bear? 

For me, it’s a story ripe for discernment. Hmmmm…. I wonder…

—Jen LaMaster is an Assistant Principal at Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School in Indianapolis, IN.

Prayer

Your Heart Today

Where there is fear I can allay,
Where there is pain I can heal,
Where there are wounds I can bind,
And hunger I can fill:
Lord, grant me courage,
Lord, grant me strength,
Grant me compassion
That I may be your heart today.

Where there is hate I can confront,
Where there are yokes I can release,
Where there are captives I can free
And anger I can appease:
Lord, grant me courage,
Lord, grant me strength,
Grant me compassion
That I may be your heart today.

When comes the day I dread
To see our broken world,
Protect me from myself grown cold
That your people I may behold.
And when I’ve done all that I could,
Yet, there are hearts I cannot move,
Lord, give me hope,
That I may be your heart today.

—Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ