16th Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Jer 1:1, 4-10
The words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, of a priestly family in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin. The word of the LORD came to me thus: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you. “Ah, Lord GOD!” I said, AI know not how to speak; I am too young.” But the LORD answered me, Say not, “I am too young.” To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the LORD. Then the LORD extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying, See, I place my words in your mouth! This day I set you over nations and over kingdoms, To root up and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant.
Gospel: Mt 13:1-9
On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some 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. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
TO BE TRUE TO OUR VOCATION: The call of Jeremiah, reminds us about our call to follow the Lord in the different walks of life that we chose to live. God has a plan for each one of us. It is good to live according to the plan of God so that we are happy and contented. We have our strengths and weaknesses. When God calls us to a particular way of life, he wants us to integrate our personality in order to respond to him fully. This requires awareness and God’s grace. Then with St. Paul we will be able to say, “…for when I am weak, then I am strong”. (2 Cor. 12: 9-11). The Gospel reading reminds us that the seed that fell on the good soil produces abundant fruits. We are the good seeds and God expects us to be fruitful and glorify him.
Prayer: Lord let me be contented and happy, in the way of life that I have chosen to live.
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JESUS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE: Manna was not just food to fill the bellies of the Israelites but was a type of Christ as the bread of Life. It was given to build their faith in God as the only one who can sustain them even in the wilderness. The parable of the sower teaches that the seeds behave according to the nature of the soil in which they are sown. Although it is the same type of seed it does not behave the same in all the types of soils. This shows how we receive the word of God in our hearts. Jesus is the word that became fresh and dwelt amongst us. Every time we receive the word and the Eucharist we receive the bread of life that is able to sustain us in our Christian journey.
DAILY GOSPEL 