Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: January 24, 2024

Date:  Wednesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time/ Memorial of St. Francis de Sales  

 Scripture Text:  Mark 4:1-20

On another occasion, Jesus began to teach by the sea. A very large crowd gathered around him so that he got into a boat on the sea and sat down. And the whole crowd was beside the sea on land. And he taught them at length in parables, and in the course of his instruction he said to them, "Hear this! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep. And when the sun rose, it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it and it produced no grain. And some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit. It came up and grew and yielded thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold." He added, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear."

And when he was alone, those present along with the Twelve questioned him about the parables. He answered them, "The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you. But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that they may look and see but not perceive, and hear and listen but not understand, in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven." Jesus said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? Then how will you understand any of the parables? The sower sows the word. These are the ones on the path where the word is sown. As soon as they hear, Satan comes at once and takes away the word sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground who, when they hear the word, receive it at once with joy. But they have no roots; they last only for a time. Then when tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. Those sown among thorns are another sort. They are the people who hear the word, but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word, and it bears no fruit. But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel text for today from Mark recounts Jesus’ teaching of the parable and the seed. Unable to understand the parables that Jesus presented, the disciples asked Jesus to explain, which He did. We are the “ground” that receive the seed (the Word of God) from the sower (the LORD). Our openness to that word as well as our lifestyle contributes to our ability take in the word and let it transform us and produce fruit.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Is my faith too shallow to allow the LORD’s love to take root? Do I allow the things of this world, especially the trials, to choke out the good in me that has grown from my love of the LORD?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, Beloved Son, Most Holy Spirit, moment to moment You shower us with your power and presence. You have given us your Word, the history and wisdom of ages in your care that reveal to us the depth and breadth of your love as well as what is required of us as your daughters and sons. Grant that through the Spirit our minds and hearts may become fertile ground for faith and hope. Grant that the love your shower upon us will inform our minds, conform our will, and transform our beings. May we receive your Word and live the call we have received in a manner worthy of the disciples we are called to be. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be world without end. Amen.