Gospel: Matthew 13:1-23

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!’
Then the disciples came and asked him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’ He answered, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. The reason I speak to them in parables is that “seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.”
With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:
“You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes;
so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears,  and understand with their heart and turn—
and I would heal them.”
But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.
‘Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’

Matthew 13:1-23

Reflection:

Our gospel for today is from Matthew 13:1-23. This gospel talks about the parable of the seeds. The gospel has such very deep meaning that you need to read it with comprehension. If you fail to get its real deep meaning then you can either know the secrets of life.

The parable if the seeds is what Jesus used in speaking to people to let them have a better view of the real meaning. Then after which, the people will connect it to themselves. Matthew 13:1-23 gives us a portrait of how we grow as individuals in this life.

The seeds in the parable is none other than us people of God. We are all sown into life but after we were sown, we led our lives in separate ways. We are all the same equal seeds in the hands of our creator but after being sown, we have different lifestyles.

Those who prefer to use their talents and skills in the good way grow to be those who are successful. There are also those who prefer the bad ways thus they were also tagged as criminals. There are others who were very lazy to use their talents and are only waiting for alms. There are those who became rich because they use schemes to uplift their status in life. Matthew 13:1-23 is telling us this real meaning of the parable.

The same sower, the same creator the same equal seeds sown. Yet, those seeds led different lives and it is according to their own options. What God wants us to do is to make use of our talents and skills in a more positive way wherein no other people will get hurt. Matthew 13:1-23 is telling us to be the best seeds that grow on the good soil and multiply their talents to help others. After all, only God can help you with all the struggles but growing in a good soil is a big plus for us. – Clea | Helpline PH