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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Bringing the word to a bountiful harvest

Bringing the word to a bountiful harvest

Published Jul 15, 2023 04:16 pm

REFLECTIONS TODAY


Matthew 13:1-9 [or 13:1-23]

Sowing the Word is an enterprise that God himself undertakes. But we have to provide the good soil for the seed to grow to maturity and bear fruit aplenty. How does this work in our life as Catholics? Besides reading the Bible, the Catholic is exposed to the Word of God present in the liturgy. The first half of the Holy Mass, the Liturgy of the Word, is enriched by the First and Second Readings, the Responsorial Psalm, and the Gospel. The Word of God is then expounded in the homily. In addition, the Catholic who prays the Rosary is also exposed to the Word by the repetition of the Lord’s Prayer and the Hail Mary, and by the mysteries being meditated on. This exposure to the Word is an act of sowing. When the Word is sown, it cannot be left on its own, lest it perishes. It must be meditated upon by its receiver. We cannot just hear Mass; we ought to let the Word of God speak to us. The same is true of the Rosary. We do not merely recite the words; we allow the lessons of each mystery to speak to us of humility, service, piety, and other virtues. Thus, the Word is cultivated. The delight of meditation further brings us to contemplation wherein we appreciate the goodness of God and allow ourselves to unite with him in love. Here, the Word blossoms into flower. Finally, the prayer process is transformed into action. The Word comes alive as God adorns a person’s soul with a harvest of virtues acquired from meaningful encounter with the Word. A person becomes humble and charitable and is able to perform good works because he is inspired by the grace of God. The Word produces a bountiful harvest in the life of a person. The effectivity of God’s Word is assured by the prophet Isaiah in the First Reading: “[My word] shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it” (v 11). The readings for this Sunday are an invitation for us to become nurturing seedbeds and fields for sowing and cultivating the Word of God. *Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail:*[*[email protected]*](mailto:[email protected])*; Website:*[*http://www.stpauls.ph*](http://www.stpauls.ph)*.*

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