The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Readings & Meditation for Saturday, September 19, 2015
Meditation: Luke 8:
4 After a large crowd had gathered from the people who kept coming to him from town after town, Yeshua told this parable: 5 “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell along the path and was stepped on, and the birds flying around ate it up. 6 Some fell on rock; and after it sprouted, it dried up from lack of moisture. 7 Some fell in the midst of thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. 8 But some fell into rich soil, and grew, and produced a hundred times as much as had been sown.” After saying this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear with, let him hear!”
9 His talmidim asked him what this parable might mean, 10 and he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the Kingdom of God; but the rest are taught in parables, so that they may look but not see, and listen but not understand.[Luke 8:10 Isaiah 6:9]
11 “The parable is this: the seed is God’s message. 12 The ones along the path are those who hear, but then the Adversary comes and takes the message out of their hearts, in order to keep them from being saved by trusting it. 13 The ones on rock are those who, when they hear the word, accept it with joy; but these have no root — they go on trusting for awhile; but when a time of testing comes, they apostatize. 14 As for what fell in the midst of thorns these are the ones who hear; but as they go along, worries and wealth and life’s gratifications crowd in and choke them, so that their fruit never matures. 15 But what fell in rich soil — these are the ones who, when they hear the message, hold onto it with a good, receptive heart; and by persevering, they bring forth a harvest.
Saint Januarius, Bishop and Martyr (Optional Memorial)
So that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand. (Luke 8:10)
These words of Jesus are puzzling at first glance. Did he really mean that his reason for telling parables was so that people would not understand them? Certainly not! That would be just plain cruel. No, Jesus wanted to reach everyone. He told parables precisely because with their rich stories and familiar images, they are easier to understand. Most of Jesus’ listeners weren’t schooled in Scripture. So he gave them simple stories they could relate to, such as the parable of the prodigal son or this parable of the sower and the seeds, so that his teaching could find a home in their hearts.
Today’s parable is especially important because it deals with the word of God, which is “able to save your souls” (James 1:21). As he often did, Jesus was overdramatizing by using a little reverse psychology. If you tell someone they may have difficulty hearing you, they will most likely perk up their ears when you speak. And since the very subject of the parable is the importance of hearing, the more likely it is that we will really listen and become the kind of “soil” that produces good fruit.
So how do we know if our ears are open? We know if the word we hear produces an effect, if our lives are changing. The whole point of the parable is to bring us to obey God’s word. The root of the word obey means both “to listen” and “to be persuaded.”
Today in your prayer time, try taking a “hearing test.” Read the parable out loud, slowly. Invite the Holy Spirit to listen with you. Are there particular points where he is telling you, “Stop; pay attention”? Perhaps something you read pricks your conscience. Perhaps something gives you a little sense of excitement or hope or direction. Whatever happens, let that word take root. Let it be translated from a thought into an action. Then make a note of what you have heard, and try to follow through on it. Try your best to approach it “with a generous and good heart,” and you’ll find it bearing wonderful fruit in your life (Luke 8:15).
“Lord, help me to be an obedient servant who hears you clearly, not just with my ears, but with my whole heart.” Amen!
9 His talmidim asked him what this parable might mean, 10 and he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the Kingdom of God; but the rest are taught in parables, so that they may look but not see, and listen but not understand.[Luke 8:10 Isaiah 6:9]
11 “The parable is this: the seed is God’s message. 12 The ones along the path are those who hear, but then the Adversary comes and takes the message out of their hearts, in order to keep them from being saved by trusting it. 13 The ones on rock are those who, when they hear the word, accept it with joy; but these have no root — they go on trusting for awhile; but when a time of testing comes, they apostatize. 14 As for what fell in the midst of thorns these are the ones who hear; but as they go along, worries and wealth and life’s gratifications crowd in and choke them, so that their fruit never matures. 15 But what fell in rich soil — these are the ones who, when they hear the message, hold onto it with a good, receptive heart; and by persevering, they bring forth a harvest.
Saint Januarius, Bishop and Martyr (Optional Memorial)
So that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand. (Luke 8:10)
These words of Jesus are puzzling at first glance. Did he really mean that his reason for telling parables was so that people would not understand them? Certainly not! That would be just plain cruel. No, Jesus wanted to reach everyone. He told parables precisely because with their rich stories and familiar images, they are easier to understand. Most of Jesus’ listeners weren’t schooled in Scripture. So he gave them simple stories they could relate to, such as the parable of the prodigal son or this parable of the sower and the seeds, so that his teaching could find a home in their hearts.
Today’s parable is especially important because it deals with the word of God, which is “able to save your souls” (James 1:21). As he often did, Jesus was overdramatizing by using a little reverse psychology. If you tell someone they may have difficulty hearing you, they will most likely perk up their ears when you speak. And since the very subject of the parable is the importance of hearing, the more likely it is that we will really listen and become the kind of “soil” that produces good fruit.
So how do we know if our ears are open? We know if the word we hear produces an effect, if our lives are changing. The whole point of the parable is to bring us to obey God’s word. The root of the word obey means both “to listen” and “to be persuaded.”
Today in your prayer time, try taking a “hearing test.” Read the parable out loud, slowly. Invite the Holy Spirit to listen with you. Are there particular points where he is telling you, “Stop; pay attention”? Perhaps something you read pricks your conscience. Perhaps something gives you a little sense of excitement or hope or direction. Whatever happens, let that word take root. Let it be translated from a thought into an action. Then make a note of what you have heard, and try to follow through on it. Try your best to approach it “with a generous and good heart,” and you’ll find it bearing wonderful fruit in your life (Luke 8:15).
“Lord, help me to be an obedient servant who hears you clearly, not just with my ears, but with my whole heart.” Amen!
1 Timothy 6:
13 I charge you before God, who gives life to all things, and before the Messiah Yeshua, who in his witness to Pontius Pilate gave the same good testimony, 14 to obey your commission spotlessly and irreproachably until our Lord Yeshua the Messiah appears. 15 His appearing will be brought about in its own time by the blessed and sole Sovereign, who is King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone is immortal, who dwells in unapproachable light that no human being has ever seen or can see — to him be honor and eternal power. Amen.
Psalm 100:(0) A psalm of thanksgiving:
(1) Shout for joy to Adonai, all the earth!
2 Serve Adonai with gladness.
Enter his presence with joyful songs.
3 Be aware that Adonai is God;
it is he who made us; and we are his,
his people, the flock in his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
enter his courtyards with praise;
give thanks to him, and bless his name.
5 For Adonai is good, his grace continues forever,
and his faithfulness lasts through all generations.
____________________________
Psalm 100:(0) A psalm of thanksgiving:
(1) Shout for joy to Adonai, all the earth!
2 Serve Adonai with gladness.
Enter his presence with joyful songs.
3 Be aware that Adonai is God;
it is he who made us; and we are his,
his people, the flock in his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
enter his courtyards with praise;
give thanks to him, and bless his name.
5 For Adonai is good, his grace continues forever,
and his faithfulness lasts through all generations.
____________________________
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