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July 14
Randolph Cobankiat
Mt. 13:1-23
Parable of the Sower
The soil of a man's heart is stonier nowadays. He grows what he can--and tends it well.? -Stephen King (Paraphrase)
If you have ears, then hear!? An abundant harvest depends not only on the quality of seed, but also on the kind of soil that the seed is planted in. The parable of the sower, considered one of the most well known parables in the Gospels, tells us of our responsibility in implementing God?s plan of salvation. It is not enough to have received gifts from God if we do not welcome or accept them whole-heartedly and make them beat fruit. There is a demand for our personal cooperation. Does God need us? It may not seem like it, but He willed it so. Creation is still progressing until now; liberation and salvation of all humanity is still unfolding. There is a task for all of us to responsibly contribute to bring about the Word and designs of God revealed in our personal and communitarian history. Those people who do not seem to listen to His Word, those people who were just like the seeds which were eaten by the birds, fell on rocky ground and withered, and the seeds which fell among the thorns and got choked were given a warning by Jesus that they will not enjoy His fruits.
We, Judenites, are so much like these people who don?t seem to listen to Jesus? Word. Usually in the weekly Mass, it seems that we attend it out of obligation (since it gives us one class-free hour and a few more excess minutes for recess), and not out of true worship. I myself am sometimes rather bored during Mass, without forgetting that the reason why we were there was not just to stay there and do nothing, talk with your seatmates (very tempting indeed), and in the worst cases, doze off (who says that only kindergarteners get a free afternoon nappy-time?). We go there to pray, to worship, and to thank God, but most of all, listen to His teachings. We must try to resist temptation, no matter how irresistible (or annoying), that may be, lest we forever lose our grasp on the true meaning of our Lord?s teachings. If we fall under temptation, we will be unable to listen to God?s Word and bask in it?s glorious fruits.
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