and hearing, they may not understand. “Now, this is the point of the parable: The seed is the word of God. Those along the wayside are people who hear it; but immediately, the devil comes and takes the word from their minds, for he doesn’t want them to believe and be saved. Those on the rocky ground are people who receive the word with joy; but they have no root; they believe for a while, and give way in time of trial. Among the thorns are people who hear the word, but, as they go their way, they are choked by worries, riches, and the pleasures of life; they bring no fruit to maturity. The good soil, instead, are people who receive the word, and keep it, in a gentle and generous mind, and, persevering patiently, they bear fruit.“

Reflections
The central message is that some of the seed that the sower plants will wither and die, while some will find fertile soil and flourish. So it is with the Word of God and the Word of Jesus. It is a message of confidence and hope for those whose hearts are open and ready to receive God’s word. As he finished the parable, Jesus called out to all, inviting them to hear. He did not mean that they just physically hear. They are meant to listen carefully, to assimilate fully and to implement effectively all that he says. He is the Sower, the seed is the Word, those spoken to are the soil. Then follows the explanation which really carries the original parable further than its simple message. In fact, it becomes more like an allegory where each part has a meaning of its own rather than the one point that a parable normally makes. And, whereas in the parable the emphasis was on the sower, here the emphasis is very much on the soil which receives the seed. Each example is made to represent a particular way in which the message is received or not. It is quite clear to which group we are called to belong. With which one, in fact, should I honestly identify myself? How am I responding to God’s word in my daily life? Is my life fruitful in living the values of the Kingdom?

© Copyright Bible Diary 2018