One afternoon in the seminary, I repotted my succulent plant since it has already outgrown its small pot. I admit that I am not that knowledgeable about replanting and repotting. I don’t even know where to get additional soil for my plant. A brother saw my struggle and helped me. He said that succulents are not like other plants. They are drought-tolerant and dislike so much moisture. So, I needed to prepare a loose and grainy soil mixture in order for my succulent to grow better. A rich soil for my succulent is to be prepared and not simply taking whatever is available.

In today’s gospel, the challenge for me is to become a rich soil in order for the seed, the word of God, to grow and bear fruit in me. Who would not want to be a rich soil for the Lord? The sower reflects the generosity of God in sowing the seed of His word to all. He takes chances by throwing seeds in the pathway, in the rocky ground, and in the thorny environment. God still sees potential in them. Perhaps, underneath the pathway, the rocks, and the thorns, is a rich soil.

Before taking the risk in heeding the call to priesthood, I could say that I was one of those who received the word of God shallowly. I was too obsessed with the pleasures and comfort of the world, pretending to be touched by the word of God but still ending up doing the opposite. Even now that I am a seminarian, sometimes I am still tempted to resist God’s word. To be a rich soil is a response to the generosity of God. Being a rich soil is not a precondition, but a progression. Becoming a rich soil is a continuous process of cultivation through perseverance in faith.

By: Paulo O. Magistrado

Today’s Gospel

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.”