Tuesday, January 26, 2016
St. Angela Merici, Religious
27 January 2016
Weekday, 3rd Week in Ordinary Time /
St. Angela Merici, Religious
Green. 2 Sm 7: 4 – 17. Mk 4: 1 – 20.
From northern Italy, St. Angela Merici (1470 – 1540) worked for the formation of Christian women in society and founded the Order of the Ursulines (153), the first women's teaching congregation in the Church.
From the Gospel Reading: Mk 4: 3 - 20
In his teaching he said, "Listen! The sower went out to sow. As he sowed, some of the seed fell along a path and the birds came and ate it up. Some of the seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil; it sprang up immediately because it had no depth; but when the sun rose and burned it, it withered because it had no roots.
"Other seed fell among thorn bushes and the thorns grew and choked it, so it didn't produce any grain. But some seed fell on good soil, grew and increased and yielded grain; some produced thirty times as much, others sixty and others one hundred times as much." And Jesus added, "Listen then, if you have ears."
When the crowd went away, some who were around him with the Twelve asked about the parables. He answered them, "The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But for those outside, everything comes in parables. . ."
Jesus said to them, "Don't you understand this parable? How then will you understand any of the parables? What the sower is sowing is the word. Those along the path where the seed fell are people who hear the word, but as soon as they do, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
"Other people receive the word like rocky ground. As soon as they hear the word, they accept it with joy, but they have no roots so it lasts only a little while. No sooner does trouble or persecution come because of the word, than they fall. Others receive the seed as among thorns. After they hear the word, they are caught up in the worries of this life, false hopes of riches and other desires. All these come in and choke the word so that finally it produces nothing.
"And there are others who receive the word as good soil. They hear the word, take it to heart and produce: some thirty, some sixty and some one hundred times as much."
Reflection
In today's parable, the different environments on which the seeds fall represent how the word of God is received and followed by those to whom it is given. The rocky ground with no roots represents those not rooted in the Gospel, causing them to be hard-hearted and close-minded when they hear the word. The thorny ground represents those who are caught up with the cares of the world, with material or earthly desires. Being too attached to material things, or perhaps being too anxious about the future, may choke out the word of God from one's consciousness.
This brings us to the seeds that fell on good soil. It is up to us to set our priorities so that Jesus's word remains the center of our lives. We do this by making room in our lives for prayer, receiving the sacraments, and doing good works. By doing so, we can assure ourselves of a bountiful spiritual harvest.
Lord, give us the grace to be ready not only to listen to your word, but to love it, keep it in our hearts, and put it into action by doing everything with great love, and for your greater glory.
WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:
BIRTHDAY
Br. Arman B. Samante, SJ
IN MEMORIAM (+)
Caridad B. Yang
OTHER INTENTIONS:
For the speedy recovery & complete healing of Dodong Sanchez.
For the intentions of Francesca Erich & Michael Dexter Lim.
Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.
Have a good day!
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# posted by F O O D F O R T H O U G H T @ 5:49 AM 
