Good Soil – Reflection on Matthew 13:1-9
As someone who wears hearing aids when needed, the parable of a sower takes on special meaning because Jesus says, “Let anyone with ears listen.” Jesus effectively means paying attention and avoiding distractions. You might think not hearing well should reduce distractions so we can “listen” better. However, when a person has a deficit in one sense, they often get an increased capacity in others. For instance, I can smell odors far away, and clothing can irritate me. Despite these challenges, God mercifully helps us push through these and other “noises” so we may grow on good soil. With God, we can become proficient in listening despite struggling. We can constantly remind ourselves to call out to the Spirit to push away distractions and learn more about sowing if needed.
The Sower by James Tissot (full resolution image of painting).
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Matthew 13:1-9 – Scripture*
The Parable of the Sower
13 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. 2 Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3 And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5 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. 6 But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 Let anyone with ears listen!”
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Matthew 13:1-9 Reflection – Good Soil.
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Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities experience your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.
Attributions
This site has written permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible for the passage of Matthew 13.
The Immersive Prayer website follows the guidelines for image web use at the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum websites.
Primary Lectio Divina word or phrase: Good Soil
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