Daily Gospel Reflection For 19th September 2020 : Parable of the Sower

In today's Gospel, Jesus describes responses to the word of God with the parable of the sower. The seed on the footpath refers to those who quickly lose word because they do not understand it. The seed on rocky ground describes those who have no firm foundation. The seed falling among thorns relates to those who receive the good news, but later abandon it for the world's lure. Finally, the seed on good soil describes those who hear God's word, accept it, and conform their lives to it. Many Jews in Christ's time were farmers; they understood about planting, good soil, watering, growing crops. And so Christ said that spreading God's Word was just like that, like planting seeds. You've got to do it at the right time, in the right place, in the right way. He said that some people don't want to hear God's Word at a specific time, place, or way. And that is why God's Word doesn't help them. That's why they don't bear fruit. But for those who want God's Word, it opens up new worlds. It gives them the courage to carry on, enlightens their thoughts and words, brings love to their actions. Christ's own words are: "The seed on good ground are those who hear the word in a spirit of openness, retain it, and bear fruit through perseverance." "Bear fruit through perseverance." That's the essential part. It's relatively easy to be part of a crowd listening to God's Word about love and justice, others' rights, and our duties in life. But to carry them out in perseverance, day after day, that is another thing in our daily lives. Every day, God asks us to decide whether or not we will live for his glory. When Jesus came upon the man who had been born blind, he said that this had happened so that God could be glorified in his works (John 9: 3-4). When he was healed, the man joyfully proclaimed what God had done. Despite pressure and threats from the Pharisees, he continued to glorify God. We face a similar choice: We can give God glory for His work in us or allow fear and outside pressure to overcome us. We can fearlessly proclaim God's marvel, or fears of rejection can bound us to the point where we dilute God's action and deny him glory. Do we believe that the Gospel has changed us, or do we believe change happened due to our efforts? Do we believe that everyone needs salvation, or that Jesus is just an option in God's plan? The answers to these questions can be found by examining the fruit being borne in our lives. God asks us if we want to be vibrant Christians who transform the world or merely agreeable people who sometimes pray and occasionally read scripture. If we acknowledge God's action in our lives and desire to serve him, the seed will be productive. We will yield a hundredfold of fruits of the Gospel. daily gospel reflection