Dedication to Growth

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary exhort us to be dedicated to seeking to develop the fertile ground of a mind prepared to accept transformative growth in Christ.

Seed in Fertile Soil

The Reading from the First Letter to Timothy declares 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).

* [6:11] Man of God: a title applied to Moses and the prophets (Dt 33:1; 1 Sm 2:27; 1 Kgs 12:22; 13:1; etc.). (1 Timothy, CHAPTER 6, n.d.)

Psalm 100 is a hymn of the chosen people of 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, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke presents 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, n.d.)

Sara Schulte-Bukowinski comments that the dangers to the Christian faith in this time and place are much more subtle and difficult to notice. That doesn’t mean they are absent.

I need to learn to pay attention to how the seeds of the Word are stolen, choked, withered in me and the world around me today, and how I might cooperate with God’s grace in creating good soil. The first is to name some of those threats to the seeds of Good News—isolation, excessive social media consumption, consumerism, and a superficial identification with the faith. I find some of these in myself, and I observe some of them in the world around me. They can be so subtle that they are easy to miss. It is easier to go with the flow. After all, there are consequences for being counter-cultural. They may not be literal martyrdom, but they are costs nonetheless. (Schulte-Bukowinski, n.d.)

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 God didn’t just drop a seed in you and then wait to see what you would do with it. No, he wants to help you cultivate the garden of your heart—to remove rocks, water the soil, and pull out the weeds and thorns that crop up there.

Today in prayer, invite Jesus to walk through your garden with you. Ask him to show you all the spiritual fruit that is already growing in you: his love, his mercy, his patience, his peace. Imagine how he rejoices over all that he finds. Ask him also to point out the rough, barren patches where selfishness, envy, pride, or other enemies have been able to weaken or prevent any growth. Know that no matter what he shows you, he is doing it so that you can become even more fruitful than you already are. He wants nothing but good for you, so you can always trust him.

“Come, Lord, and search my heart. Help me bear abundant fruit for your kingdom!” (Meditation on Luke 8:4-15, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that 1 Timothy towards the end is a parenesis, a last instruction on how to behave until Jesus returns that is expressing a  future eschatology unlike Paul’s sense of the imminent return of Christ. The parable of the sower can be understood as a paraphrase of the Great Commandment loving God with our whole heart, understood as our intellect, and soul until the life is torn from us like the seed on rocky ground and the seed among the thorns of love of  earthly passions or  on the fertile ground of a prepared heart. Friar Jude notes that the end of the parable is a quote from Isaiah that Jesus uses to express that He has spoken as simply as possible doing everything He could to help them understand.

Father Richard Rohr, OFM, shares the Seeing Through the Eyes of Love: Weekly Summary and introduces Carmen Acevedo Butcher to lead a guided meditation.

On the in-breath, hear God, love, or however you name divinity saying, “I love you,” to you. And on the out breath, say back, with all your childlike heart, “I love you” to God or love. Breathing in the beauty of God’s “I love you,” and breathing out your heartfelt “I love you” back.  

Whatever comes up while doing this breath prayer—joy, sorrow, fear, grief, anger, gratitude, shame—feel it. Hold it gently, remembering, as Jim Finley says, “Love and love alone has the authority to name who we are,” and then let the feeling go. Breathing in the beauty of God’s “I love you,” that loves us through, and through, and through. Breathing out your heartfelt “I love you” back.  

Why do we love each other? The best love tastes of “without a why.” Meister Eckhart called it “sunder warumbe,” … “without a why.” Eyes open to ever-flowing divine grace. We can pause and do this meditation anywhere, any time, to remind us that only love has the authority to name who we are. May you be blessed. We love you. (Rohr, n.d.)

We meditate on the Way we are called by the Spirit to act in response to the Love of God with our whole heart and soul.

References

Luke, CHAPTER 8. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 20, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/8?4 

Meditation on Luke 8:4-15. (n.d.). Word Among Us Homepage. Retrieved September 20, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/09/20/1386468/ 

1 Timothy, CHAPTER 6. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 20, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1timothy/6?13 

Psalms, PSALM 100. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved September 20, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/100?1 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 20, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/seeing-through-the-eyes-of-love-weekly-summary/ 

Schulte-Bukowinski, S. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved September 20, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-september-20-2025 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). He Who Has Ears to Hear, Let Him Hear. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 20, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=sep20 

Life, Lineage, and Love

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to follow Jesus' example and reach out to all people we encounter on our journey.

History of Lineage

In the reading from the Prophet Jeremiah, Jeremiah’s Life is Threatened

j. [11:19] Jer 18:18; 20:10; Wis 2:20.

k. [11:20] Jer 15:15. (Jeremiah, CHAPTER 11, n.d.)

Psalm 7 Is a plea for Help against Persecutors.

* [Psalm 7] An individual lament. The psalmist flees to God’s presence in the sanctuary for justice and protection (Ps 7:2–3) and takes an oath that only the innocent can swear (Ps 7:4–6). The innocent psalmist can thus hope for the just God’s protection (Ps 7:7–14) and be confident that the actions of the wicked will come back upon their own heads (Ps 7:15–17). The justice of God leads the psalmist to praise (Ps 7:18). (Psalms, PSALM 7, n.d.)

The Gospel of John presents discussion among the People on the origins of the Messiah.

* [7:40–53] Discussion of the Davidic lineage of the Messiah. (John, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)

Eileen Wirth comments that most of us would have to admit that we tend to make assumptions about people on the other side of the national divide that allow us to tune them out without listening.

I’ve had to explain to friends in blue states why I live happily in my red state even though I’m a bleeding heart with four degrees. But I’m also guilty of making such assumptions and refusing to listen to people with whom I disagree.            

Jesus was an outsider as most prophets and revolutionaries are.  By definition they are willing to risk  confronting  conventional thinking and challenge the powerful.  If much of what Jesus demands doesn’t make us uncomfortable, we’re not taking him seriously. We don’t hold Galilee against him but how seriously do we consider potentially prophetic messages from people living in the wrong areas or  on the wrong side of the tracks in our own nations and communities? (Wirth, n.d.)

Don Schwager quotes “Not be walking but by loving,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"We approach God not by walking but by loving. The purer our love for him toward whom we are striving, the more present to us will he be. To him, therefore, who is everywhere present and everywhere whole, we must proceed not by our feet but by our moral virtues - judged not by the object of our knowledge but by the object of our love." (excerpt from Letter 155,13) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 7:40-53 asks why did Nicodemus, a respected teacher of the law, defend him? Why did he challenge their negative assumptions about him?

But beyond just turning to the Lord in times of need, it’s equally important to develop the habit of spending time with him every day, especially by prayerfully reading the Scriptures. As we do, we become increasingly familiar with God’s word—and increasingly familiar with Jesus. Reading his words in the Gospels, we get to know his love and mercy. Reading prophecies in the Old Testament, we understand that he really is who he said he was. Reading stories and letters from the early Church, we see how Jesus’ word has the power to spread through everyday followers—like you!

Jesus is waiting to meet you again today. So come and spend time with him!

“Lord, help me get to know you better through your word!” (Meditation on John 7:40-53, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments that Jeremiah feels like a lamb led to the slaughter as the people want to blame him for their trouble. The Goel in Jewish history is a person who appears to redeem or vindicate people in trouble. The disdain of the Jerusalem Jews for the people of Galilee is connected to their physical and social proximity to pagan people. Friar Jude notes the evolution of Nicodemus' relationship with Jesus.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Buddhist teacher Kaira Jewel Lingo who offers an embodied meditation to calm our nervous systems in times of stress and unknowing.

Every time you breathe out, let your body rest even more into the support of the Earth. 

Allow your face to soften, releasing the forehead, the muscles around the eyes, the jaw … 

Let the tongue rest in the mouth … 

Be aware of the shoulders and as you breathe out, let the shoulders soften … 

Bring attention to the chest and belly, allow them to release and soften on the next exhale … 

Notice your arms and hands, with the next exhale let them grow a little heavier, releasing tension … 

Feel your legs and feet, as you exhale release, soften, and let go … 

Feel your whole body now as you inhale and exhale, allowing the whole body to soften and release its weight even more onto the Earth.… (Rohr, n.d.)

You can bring this quality of resting back into your daily life. When you notice yourself leaning into the future, tensing up, trying to predict what will happen, straining to figure out what to do, whether on your own or with others, see if you can actually physically rest back.

We implore the Spirit to counteract the over importance we may place on the origin of people as we share our life and love with them.

References

Jeremiah, CHAPTER 11. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 5, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/11?18 

John, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 5, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/7?40 

Meditation on John 7:40-53. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 5, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/04/05/1241065/ 

Psalms, PSALM 7. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 5, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/7?2 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved April 5, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/contemplative-nonconformity-weekly-summary/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Reaction to Jesus' Words. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 5, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=apr5 

Wirth, E. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved April 5, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/040525.html