Matthew 13: 1-23

Jesus addressed his congregation, telling stories. “What do you make of this? A farmer planted seed. As he scattered the seed, some of it fell on the road, and birds ate it. Some fell in the gravel;
it sprouted quickly but didn’t put down roots, so when the sun came up it withered just as quickly. Some fell in the weeds; as it came up, it was strangled by the weeds. Some fell on good earth, and produced a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.

“Are you listening to this? Really listening?”
“Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn’t take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person’s heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.

“The seed cast in the gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.

“The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news. But weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.

“The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams.”

Gospel Reflection

Jesus spoke in parables because He wants to convey a teaching and He wants His disciples to have a personal reflection on every parable that He gives. These parables are not only for the disciples to reflect on. This is also for us to ponder and contemplate.

The first parable is about a man who sowed good seeds, then while all were asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds. The owner just let both the good seeds and weeds grow side by side. However, during harvest time the weeds were pulled first, after that they were tied in bundles and were burned. After which they gently gathered the wheat and they put it into the owners barn.

If our lives will end now, where will we end up? Will it be in hell to burn like the weeds? Or will it be in heaven like the wheat that ended up in the owner’s barn.

Another parable was about the tiny mustard seeds that were sowed in the field. It rose like a big tree where birds find rest. When we were baptized the seed of our catholic faith was also sown by Jesus into us.
Has it risen as big as a mustard seed?
Have we become instrument of Jesus’ compassion and mercy in word and in deed?

These parables invite us to self-reflections.
How are we as followers of Jesus? Are we like the weeds or the wheat?
Is our faith now as big as the mustard seed in word and in deed?
Have we already become yeast to our followers by way of helping them know Jesus in a much deeper sense?