The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine the depth of our love for God and neighbour through our minds, difficulties, and material support.
The reading from the First Letter of Timothy presents exhortations to Timothy.
* [6:11–16] Timothy’s position demands total dedication to God and faultless witness to Christ (1 Tm 6:11–14) operating from an awareness, through faith, of the coming revelation in Jesus of the invisible God (1 Tm 6:15–16). (1 Timothy, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 100 declares all lands are summoned to Praise God.
* [Psalm 100] A hymn inviting the people to enter the Temple courts with thank offerings for the God who created them.
* [100:3] Although the people call on all the nations of the world to join in their hymn, they are conscious of being the chosen people of God. (Psalms, PSALM 100 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus teaches and explains the Parable of the Sower.
* [8:4–21] The focus in this section is on how one should hear the word of God and act on it. It includes the parable of the sower and its explanation (Lk 8:4–15), a collection of sayings on how one should act on the word that is heard (Lk 8:16–18), and the identification of the mother and brothers of Jesus as the ones who hear the word and act on it (Lk 8:19–21). See also notes on Mt 13:1–53 and Mk 4:1–34.
* [8:4–8] See note on Mt 13:3–8.
* [8:11–15] On the interpretation of the parable of the sower, see note on Mt 13:18–23. (Luke, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)
Cindy Costanzo comments that the Parable of the Sower appears in the New Testament in the following Gospels Mark 4:1-20; Matthew 13:1-23; and Luke 8: 4-15 as well as the extra-canonical Gospel of Thomas. Each author of these respective Gospels found this parable important enough to write about for all who would read in the present as well as in the future.
As I reflect, I am especially attentive today to the care of my soul and my family’s soul. Is my soul receptive to self-love and love for others? Am I living to my internal values? Is my soul able to nurture others…promote healthy family relationships? Provide support for others in need? Do I give my body, mind and soul enough sleep, exercise, and a healthy diet? Do I engage in risky behaviors to relieve my stress/burdens, toxic behaviors, or am I able to resist these risky behaviors and seek healthy avenues of release? In all of this…what is my ability to seek out Jesus and ask for support in all my needs and my family needs? Reflecting on this parable today reminds me that I must care for my soul to give to others, especially my family and neighbors and allow the ‘seeds’ that are planted to grow. In turn, I can give back and love others as God intended. (Costanzo, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “The Devil snatches good seed off the path,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"The seed is the Word of God. Those on the way are they who have heard. Afterwards, the devil comes and takes away the Word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved. We see in a moment that the hardness of the ground causes the seed on the pathways to be snatched away. A pathway always is hard and untilled, because it is exposed to every one's feet. It does not admit any seed into it, but it lies rather upon the surface, ready for any birds that will to snatch it away. All whose minds are hard and unyielding, and so to speak, pressed together, do not receive the divine seed. The divine and sacred admonition does not find an entrance into them. They do not accept the words that would produce in them the fear of God and by means of which they could bring forth as fruits the glories of virtue. They have made themselves a beaten and trampled pathway for unclean demons, yes, for Satan himself, such as never can bear holy fruit. Let those who are awake, whose heart is sterile and unfruitful, open your mind, receive the sacred seed, be like productive and well-tilled soil, bring forth to God the fruits that will raise you to an incorruptible life."(excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 41) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 8:4-15 asks how can we provide rich soil for the seed that God has entrusted to us?
We till our soil by all these acts of love, and as we do, the worries of life begin to lose their hold on us. Then our branches can spread even wider and higher, with fruit to feed all of God’s children.
“Jesus, help me to bear fruit for you today.” (Meditation on Luke 8:4-15, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler notes that the Resurrection of Jesus supported a belief among Timothy’s community that the end times and an accounting were near. The Parable of the Sower is an explanation of the Great Commandment. Friar Jude comments that Jesus quotes Isaiah as He explains the choice of people to not comprehend the meaning even in the language of parables.
Franciscan Media describes the life of Padre Pio.
Referring to that day’s Gospel (Matthew 11:25-30) at Padre Pio’s canonization Mass in 2002, Saint John Paul II said: “The Gospel image of ‘yoke’ evokes the many trials that the humble Capuchin of San Giovanni Rotondo endured. Today we contemplate in him how sweet is the ‘yoke’ of Christ and indeed how light the burdens are whenever someone carries these with faithful love. The life and mission of Padre Pio testify that difficulties and sorrows, if accepted with love, transform themselves into a privileged journey of holiness, which opens the person toward a greater good, known only to the Lord.” (Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, n.d.)
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces retreat leader Joyce Rupp who is dedicated to the cultivation of compassion in the world. She describes a practice she has used on retreats where she offers each individual four seeds.
I asked the group to consider the seeds as symbols of the four main spiritual qualities necessary for compassion’s growth: non judgment, nonviolence, forgiveness, and mindfulness.
The more these seeds are nurtured, the greater the harvest of compassion. Enlivening these four aspects requires deliberate practice, interior stamina, and trust in the power of the Holy One to assist in their development….
We plant the seeds of compassion by being aware of our thoughts and feelings, and by the deliberate intention to think and respond in a kindhearted manner…. We can teach our minds to activate compassion, so that we do not react on impulse, or go about our lives unconsciously, missing opportunities to alleviate suffering—and create more suffering. (Rohr, 2022)
We seek the help of the Spirit to deepen our love in our minds, through our suffering, and with our generosity.
References
Costanzo, C. (2023, September 14). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved September 23, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/092323.html
Luke, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 23, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/8?4
Meditation on Luke 8:4-15. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved September 23, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/09/23/790196/
1 Timothy, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 23, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1timothy/6?13
Psalms, PSALM 100 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 23, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/100?1
Rohr, R. (2022, October 2). . CAC. Retrieved September 23, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/compassion-weekly-summary-2023-09-23/
Saint Pio of Pietrelcina. (n.d.). Franciscan Media. Retrieved September 23, 2023, from https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-pio-of-pietrelcina/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 23, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=sep23
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