Gospel
From the Gospel according to Luke
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.”
The Lord speaks to all of us. But how is our heart prepared to receive Him? And how ready are we to welcome the heart of our spouse, through whom the Lord also manifests Himself?
Sometimes we receive His Word like seed fallen on the path, disguising our pride with reasons such as: “Christ’s message is not for me, this is just the way I am, it’s my wife who needs to change.”
At other times, like seed on rocky ground: I may feel called during a retreat to live our marriage as God desires, but then I return home and, at the first argument, pride swells up in me and I dismiss what I experienced at the retreat as worthless.
Or again, like seed among thorns: I believe in what St John Paul’s catechesis teaches, I believe my spouse is the helper suitable for leading me to Christ, yet I still put my attachments first: my outings, my daily reading, my hours at the computer, my beers, my coffees with friends, my football matches, before my spouse and family.
But it can also be like seed on good soil: I receive God’s Word with humility, recognising that on my own I cannot manage, surrendering myself to my spouse without expecting anything in return, savouring in prayer and the sacraments the grace of God, which makes His work sprout, grow, and bear fruit in our marriage, in our family, and in all those around us.
Brought Down to Married Life
Nora: Asher, I’ve just received the invitation to the start-of-year gathering of Marital Love Project this Sunday. Shall we go?
Nora: My love, I don’t even want to imagine what would have become of us if we hadn’t spent these two years attending the catechesis and taking part in the retreats. And how much we grow when it’s our turn to prepare the catechesis, it may be hard at first, but the fruits are amazing.
Asher: That’s true, there’s more peace at home, and it’s really helping me to overcome my anger with the children.
Nora: So, darling, shall we make an effort this year to help each other persevere, since it does us so much good?
Asher: Of course. I’ll send a message to confirm that we’re going and to encourage the rest of the group as well.
Nora: Thank you, Asher.
Mother,
Thank you for showing us the fruits of the seed of Your Son’s Word in our hearts.
Blessed and praised be our Lord!