Faith Daily |21 July 2021

PRAYER of the DAY - PENTECOST APBA p563

O God,

you alone can order our unruly wills and affections:

teach us to love what you command,

and to desire what you promise,

that, among the changes and chances of this world,

our hearts may surely there be fixed

where true joys are to be found;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

GOSPEL for the Day: Matthew 13: 1-9

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. 2Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. 3And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. 5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. 6But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. 7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9Let anyone with ears listen!’

GOSPEL Reflection: Contributed by: Mary Rose

This parable is one of the best known parables which Jesus used to teach his disciples and followers. It is also the one for which is recorded Jesus’ explanation of why he used parables (vs 18-23) and the meaning of this one.(vs 24-30). Jesus used parables which were metaphors which listeners could easily understand if they only listened and here we have the problem. Twice in this passage Jesus says ‘listen’ and he quotes the passage from Isaiah to the disciples‘ -

You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but not perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn – and I would heal them.’

Yes, the message was clear and still is if only we listen with our heart!

FINAL PRAYER:

Loving God, open our hearts by your Holy Spirit that we may not turn away from your words of wisdom. Enable us to hear what you are saying. Open our spiritual hearts and ears that we may hear you calling us by name to be yours now and forever. Amen.