Daily Catholic Lectio. Wed, 24 July 2024. Seed in every soil

Daily Catholic Lectio

Wed, 24 July 2024

Sixteenth week in Ordinary Time – Wednesday

Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10. Matthew 13:1-9

Seed in every soil!

The gospel reading brings before us the parable of the sower. This parable is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke). However, each of these three evangelists differs in details. In Luke’s gospel, the rich soil bears fruit a hundredfold. Mark writes thirty, sixty, and hundredfold. Matthew changes the order: hundred, sixty, and thirty.

“The sower went out to sow” – The sower must not sit idle in his house. He must sow, and he must continue to sow. He can’t sow within his house. He must go to the field. He can’t postpone; nor can he while away his time. Whether he likes it or not, he must sow.

The sower sows generously. He does not close his fists. He does not count the seeds. He is generous. This shows the abundance mindset of the sower.

The seeds fall on four types of soil: on the path, on rocky ground, among thorns, and in rich soil.

The path is hard; it can’t take the seed in. This type of person is hard, stubborn, and arrogant.

On the rocky ground, people lack roots. They may be eager in the beginning, but they may feel frustrated looking at the environment.

The thorns represent stress and distractions that kill human productivity and flourishing. These thorns not only nourish the seeds but also stunt their growth.

The rich soil bears fruit a hundredfold. Moreover, it must keep bearing fruit a hundredfold.

A few lessons for us:

(a) We are all ‘sowers.’ We must continue to sow. We must continue to go out of ourselves.

(b) We have to be generous. This demands an abundance mindset from us.

(c) The seed has the potential within. The soil makes the seed bear fruit. Indifference, a shallow mindset, and distractions affect the growth of the seed.

In the first reading, we listen to the call narrative of Jeremiah. The Lord God calls him for a mission. The Lord sows seed in every soil. He stands with the seeds.

Every soil attracts the seed! On every soil there is a seed!

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A pilgrim of hope continues to sow. (Jubilee 2025 AD, bite 155).

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy