From the Gospel according to 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 tha 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.”

 

The Spiritual Display Window

Today’s Gospel highlights the importance of having the right disposition of heart when welcoming the Lord and His Word. But what does that mean? It’s like a display window for the soul. Just as storefront displays capture our attention, inviting us to discover something valuable—something that enhances our lives, makes us feel better, facilitates our tasks, sparks creativity, entertains us, or lifts our spirits—the same applies to our spiritual lives.

To truly appreciate the “display windows of the soul,” we must turn away from worldly distractions and focus on what genuinely enriches our spirit. True beauty, lasting peace, divine grace, and profound joy come from God. We cultivate this awareness through silent prayer and a continuous pursuit of a deeper relationship with Him.

Only love brings real happiness. Only true connection and unity fulfill us. Let’s not be deceived by superficial distractions.

Applied to Married Life

Jhon: You know, I’ve noticed that the more I get caught up in worldly concerns, the more distant I feel from both you and God.

Myriam: I feel the same way. Whenever I need to find an outfit for a wedding or special event, I get so wrapped up in fashion trends that I neglect prayer—and even distance myself from you. I become so focused on appearances that I lose sight of what really matters.

Jhon: Let’s help each other stay grounded in God’s love and our love for each other. That way, we can keep our hearts centered on what truly matters. It’s not easy to live in this world without becoming attached to it, but we can offer our struggles to God and grow through them.

Myriam: Exactly. It would be so much easier if we could just wear a religious habit and not worry about these things! But our calling is to live in the world without letting it define us. Let’s support each other in staying focused on what’s truly important.

Blessed Mother,

We want to always be open to receiving God’s grace. We love Him deeply, and we love each other deeply. May His name be praised!