Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: September 23, 2023

Scripture Text: Luke 8:4-15

When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable. "A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold." After saying this, he called out, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear." Then his disciples asked him what the meaning of this parable might be. He answered, "Knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you; but to the rest, they are made known through parables so that they may look but not see and hear but not understand. "This is the meaning of the parable. The seed is the word of God. Those on the path are the ones who have heard, but the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, but they have no root; they believe only for a time and fall away in time of temptation. As for the seed that fell among thorns, they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit. But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance."

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The parable of the sower and seeds from the Gospel of Luke is today’s gospel reading. It is familiar, but we should spend time with it because it is a reminder to us of what can get in the way of us receiving the Word of God and God’s will for us. We are the ground upon which the seed is sown. What kind of ground are we? Is the Word of God bearing fruit in our lives? Are we seeking to persevere in our faith, hope and love as signs to others of the love of the LORD?

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

What am I allowing to get in the way of me bearing great fruit for the glory of the LORD as part of the ongoing Mission of Christ? What do I allow to disturb me, distract me?

Praying:

LORD, daily You reach out to us in love through your creation, through grace, through Your Word. Grant that we may open ourselves to Your power and presence daily. Help us to receive your Word, to seek to discern your will for us, and to grow into the one whom You created us to be. We ask this in the name of your Son, our Lord, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and Holy Spirit, one LORD, forever and ever. Amen.