The Parable of the Sower
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Lk 8:4-15
4When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to him, [Jesus] spoke in a parable. 5“A
sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the
path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up. 6Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture. 7Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. 8And
some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a
hundredfold.” After saying this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to
hear ought to hear.”
9Then his disciples asked him what the meaning of this parable might be. 10He
answered, “Knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been
granted to you; but to the rest, they are made known through parables so
that ‘they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.’
11“This is the meaning of the parable. The seed is the word of God. 12Those
on the path are the ones who have heard, but the devil comes and takes
away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. 13Those
on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with
joy, but they have no root; they believe only for a time and fall away
in time of trial. 14As for the seed that fell among thorns,
they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked
by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to
produce mature fruit. 15But as for the seed that fell on rich
soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it
with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.”
Reflection:
Bear fruit.
Before it sprouts, a seed must undergo change. It must adapt to the
soil, absorb the earth, receive water, and rely on the soil’s nutrients.
The seed must die to itself.Then new life begins. Its roots must dig
deeper so it can grow strong and healthy, become a full-grown plant, and
bear fruits.
This
is also true of our spiritual life. If we want to grow, we have to die
to ourselves, to selfishness and sin. We must cling to Jesus and rely
solely on him so that our lives will be meaningful and fruitful.
We are called to hear God’s word,
listen to it attentively,
embrace it with generous heart,
and bear fruit through perseverance.
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