Matthew 13: 1-9 

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.
And he 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 thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it.
But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit,
a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.
Whoever has ears ought to hear." 

In today’s message from Matthew 13:1-9 I reflect on how this passage has meaning for me as I sit with Jesus and have been the deflector, the rock, the thorn, and the rich soil.  In this passage I am interpreting the Sower as Christ, the Seed as the Good News and the Soil is me. 

…"A sower went out to sow.
And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,
and birds came and ate it up”…
Jesus Christ is sitting with me and wanting to talk. As he shares his message …I am not really listening, I have had a bad day, am distressed and full of anxiety, am wanting to be left alone, knowing I can figure out a solution by myself, I do not need any help regarding my situation! 


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.
Jesus Christ is sitting with me and wanting to talk. I am excited to be with Jesus and I listen to his message. However, I am a bit perplexed about what he is saying? What does it mean for me? I am afraid to ask Jesus to explain further. I feel a bit intimidated and ashamed that I don’t already know. I wish I knew more about Jesus’s life and the stories, but I am so busy and really don’t have the time right now (I am working, helping my children and grandchildren, and have a million things to do). It will have to wait.  

…“Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it”…
Jesus Christ is sitting with me and wanting to talk. I am so angry and irritated, and I really do not want to be here. Can’t Jesus see how angry and hurt I am, he needs to leave me alone. I know he is trying to talk and share a message with me, but I don’t care right now. I am so upset.  

…”But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit,
a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold…”
Jesus Christ is sitting with me and wanting to talk.  I am excited to be with Jesus and I listen to his message.  I have been working on my faith, listening to devotionals, and I joined a faith community so I can learn more about Jesus. I am excited as I have found someone that I can have faith conversations with to discuss how God has shown up in my life and how God has been there for me, my family, and my work family.  I spend time alone with God every day.  I am so excited to sit with Jesus and listen to this message and talk about how I can continue to be a loving disciple in today’s world.  

Prayer for Today: 
I am full of gratitude God for you love me as I am. You love me when I am not listening, when I am a stonewall, a prickly thorn, as well as deep rich soil. Thank-you God for always being with me,  patient, loving and understanding. With this self-awareness and knowledge, I grow closer and deeper in love and therefore can show my love to others when needed.  Amen

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary 

A prayer to Saint Joachim and Saint Anne…thank you for giving us your blessed daughter. You raised her to be faithful, loving, resilient, and strong. She said yes to our loving God and because of this faith gave us an opportunity for eternal life.  Thank you.