July 16, 2017: Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea.
Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down and the whole crowd stood along the shore.

Jesus spoke to them at length in parables, saying:
“A sower went out to sow.
And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,
and birds came and ate it up.

Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil.
It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep,
and when the sun rose it was scorched,
and it withered for lack of roots.

Some seed fell among the thorns,
and the thorns grew up and choked it.
But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit,
a hundred or sixty or thirty fold.
Whoever has ears ought to hear.” (Matthew 13:1-9)

Reflection

Why a boat? Sound travels well over water. Thus Jesus’ words would be heard clearly.
What is a parable? It’s a story intended to get attention and to prompt thought. Jesus is the sower. The seed is His word. Can you picture the birds eating the seed? the rocky ground? the thorns? the rich soil? the fruit?

Action

This week as you hear Jesus’ word, ask yourself, what kind of soil am I? Be ready to hear God’s reply and react accordingly.