Today’s Gospel:  Luke 8:4-15

REFLECTION
The parable of the sower was perhaps the best known of the Savior’s sermons. The Lord explained how the sowing of the seed represented the preaching of the Gospel, and His remarks were both stimulating and challenging.

“A sower went out to sow his seed... and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.” It was good seed, which was never allowed to germinate and take root. When Christ interpreted this section of the parable, He indicated that in like manner, Satan takes the word of Truth from the hearts of people lest they should believe and be saved. And in that one great statement the Lord revealed the setting of Biblical doctrines. Man is at the heart of all spiritual struggle, and the Lord would hardly have mentioned Satan if He had not believed in his existence. The object of divine love, and the desire of the great Sower, humanity needs the word of God; yet every attempt to sow the good seed in human hearts is challenged by evil.

“And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.” The profession of abundant life was not equalled by its depth of root. The results were superficial; they were on the surface, and consequently the plant was unable to survive. “These,” said the Master, “have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.” Even the Lord had such people among His many followers. At a certain point in His ministry, “they turned back and followed him no more.” Real evangelism is recognized by the depth of the work done, and not by its seeming popularity. Judas illustrates this type of follower. He received the word with joy and appeared to be a most sincere disciple; yet in the hour of testing he revealed that his profession of faith did not rest upon spiritual reality.

“And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up with it, and choked it.” Jesus continued, “These are they which, when they have heard, go forth and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.” It is not said that the seed failed to germinate; neither is it suggested that a harvest was non-existent. The growth of the plant was seriously hindered, because parasites drained the earth of energy. The church has its quota of people who belong to this disappointing category. The rich young ruler never brought fruit to spiritual perfection, because love of riches ruined his spiritual perception. Demas, one of the most promising of St. Paul’s associates ultimately left the apostle, because the pleasures of the world attracted his soul. This young man might have become eternally famous; but alas, he disappeared in a wilderness of overgrowing worldliness.

“And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold.” The disciples easily understood this kind of seed represented “they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.” And in this way Christ summed up the results of preaching the Gospel. In sharing the Gospel (both by words and works) with others, we should be reluctant to count heads! It would be safer to count hearts. No one sees seed taking root; one must have patience, and learn to believe that the unseen is really taking place. A faithful sower is always of more value than a successful reaper. Without the former, the latter might be unemployed. And if Demas provided the example of disappointing seed, Timothy may provide another illustration of seed well sown in a boy’s heart. He had “known the holy scriptures from his youth up” and because divine truth had taken root in his soul, the boy grew to be a man of God, whose consecrated service influenced the world. The realization that some seed might be lost did not prevent the farmer from getting on with his task. He probably made allowances for possible loss by sowing extra seed. We must emulate his example. Let us sow to our maximum capacity; then we shall not enter God’s presence empty-handed.

Today’s Reading:  1 Cor 15: 35-37, 42-49

PRAYER
Lord, let us not be weary in sowing the seeds of your Good News.  Let us not count time, effort and money spent on it.  We know it is not us who are working but Your Spirit.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.