Suy niệm Tin Mừng Thứ Sáu Tuần thứ 16
Thường Niên
Bài Tin Mừng hôm nay cho chúng ta thấy Thiên Chúa giống như một người nông dân tốt và đại lượng, người mà đã quá cao thượng và hiểu biết nhiều trong lĩnh vực gieo trồng trên đất ruộng của mình, Ngài đã không tiếc bất cứ điều gì để cứu chuộc con người; Ngài đã trao phó tất cả mọi thứ trong tay Chúa Giêsu, Người đã được ví như hạt giống được gieo vào đất tốt (cái chết và sự chôn lấp), với sự phục sinh lành thánh của Ngài, đã trở thành cuộc sống và sự sống lại của chúng ta.
Thiên Chúa là một người nông dân biết cách chờ đợi, Thời gian thuộc về Thiên Chúa Cha, vì Ngài là người duy nhất biết được về ngày giờ (Mc 13:32) của những vụ thu hoạch, gặt hái mùa màng. Thiên Chúa cũng đang chờ đợi, và chúng ta cũng phải chờ đợi khi những hy vọng của chúng ta đã được thiết kế trong ơn cứu độ của Thiên Chúa., như thánh Giacôbê đã nói: “ Kìa xem nhà nông, họ kiên nhẫn chờ đợi cho đất trổ hoa sinh trái với hoa màu quý giá: họ phải đợi cả mưa đầu mùa lẫn mưa cuối mùa” (Giacôbê 5: 7). Thiên Chúa chờ đợi mùa gặt hái trong sự phát triển của những cây Ngài đã trồng trong ân sủng của Người. Và chúng ta cũng phải gắn liền với cuộc sống tâm linh của chúng ta; Bằng những ân sủng của Thiên Chúa chúng ta cũng phải cộng tác với Ngài bằng cách cho Ngài hợp tác với chúng ta và không nên chống lại tất cả tác động biến đổi này của Thiên Chúa.
REFLECTION 16th Ordinary Time
Once we open ourselves to the Word of God, we will grow in knowledge and understanding like the seed growing infertile soil. If we harden our hearts to what God hopes for us, then like seed in parched land that seed will not grow. Nothing happens. When we close our minds and refuse to accept His word, we do not leave room to consider anything else. When we widen our vision, we become part of something bigger than ourselves.
Our Lord is so generous to us. He continually showers His blessings upon us. He wants to share His life and His love in everything that we do. It is a continuous experience of birth and rebirth. We are made whole and new all over again.
Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Jesus said to his disciples: “Hear the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the Kingdom without understanding it, and the Evil One comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground…” Matthew 13:18–20
After preaching the Parable of the Sower to the crowds and then explaining to His close disciples (likely the Twelve) the purpose of parables, Jesus, in today’s Gospel, offers them an interpretation of the parable. He speaks clearly and personally to them because they are open—their hearts are properly disposed to receive the truth.
The parable reveals four kinds of hearts: hardened, shallow, distracted, and receptive. By presenting these four interior dispositions, with only one being ideal, Jesus shows that becoming receptive to the Word of God takes effort, humility, and grace. The first three types reflect a progression of deepening receptivity, but each falls short. The final type, the good soil, represents the goal to which all hearts are called.
The first—represented by seed sown on the path—refers to those whose hearts are so hardened that God’s Word cannot enter. Their ears hear the Word of God—as symbolized by the sower sowing seed on the path—but the soil of their hearts has been trampled by many sins and self-centered habits, so the seed cannot penetrate. As a result, they do not understand the Gospel, nor do they seek to understand. This might even refer to some who attend church, hearing the readings and the homily, yet remain unmoved by the Gospel.
My Divine Sower, You sow the seed of Truth generously and abundantly. You are always speaking to me, revealing Your Love and Your perfect Will, yet I am often hardhearted, shallow, or distracted. Please till the soil of my heart and make me receptive to all You reveal, so that my life may bear an abundance of good fruit for Your Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.
Friday 16th Ordinary Time
2026
Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your Word, which you lovingly sow in the hearts of your children. Prepare my heart to receive your truth with humility, to understand your wisdom, and to allow your grace to transform my life. Remove the hardness, distractions, and anxieties that prevent your Word from taking root within me. May my life become rich soil that bears abundant fruit for your Kingdom.
1. Incomprehension and Tribulation: The Parable of the Sower is one of the parables that Jesus explains to his disciples. Every image is packed with deep meaning. The hearing of the Word of God is not reserved for those who will understand it and bear a fruitful harvest. Jesus first distinguishes three poor responses to the sowing of God’s Word. A first group hears the Word of God but does not understand it. Just as the seed sown on the path remains on the surface, so also the Word of God will not be welcomed by some hearts due to incomprehension. The person doesn’t make the Word their own. In this case, the Evil One, the devil, easily steals away the seed of the Word of God and tempts the person with other words that they readily make their own. A second group hears the Word and receives it with joy. But these converts do not have deep roots. Because of this lack of roots, when tribulation and persecution come due to beginning to live according to God’s Word, the recent convert falls away. Has my conversion to Jesus in discipleship only been superficial? Is my conversion a surface excitement, a house built on sand that cannot withstand the rough weather of difficulties, doubts, temptations, and ridicule? “Only roots, and not a superficial enthusiasm, can offer permanence and strength” (Leiva-Merikakis, Fire of Mercy Heart of the Word: Volume II, 235).
Friday 16th Ordinary Time
2023
“The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” Matthew 13:22–23
Today, Jesus clarifies for His disciples the meaning of His parable told to the crowds. He explains the meaning of the seed sown on the path, on the rocky ground, among the thorns and on the rich soil. Quoted above are the last two of those explanations. When we look carefully at the meaning of the seed sown into the rich soil, we see that these are those who hear, understand and bear fruit. And the fruit that is born is in varying degrees. One thing that this parable tells us is that hearing and even understanding the Word of God is not enough. There are many temptations we will face that will hinder God’s Word in our lives. Let’s briefly consider each.
First, there are many people who have been blessed to hear the Word of God. There are many who have been to religious education classes, have been taught by parents and others, have attended Church services but have failed to allow what they have heard to penetrate deeply to the point that they understand. To hear the Word of God is very different from understanding the Word of God. One reason for this is that the pure Word of God, when heard and understood, challenges us to the core of our being. If one truly understands God’s Word, then that person cannot remain indifferent. They must change. And they must change in a complete way. Failure to do so means that it is impossible for good fruit to be born in their life to the degree God wants.
But understanding and changing is not even enough. This is because the enemies of our soul, traditionally spoken of as the world, the flesh, and the devil, will powerfully attack any person who receives the Word of God and decides to abide by that Word. For example, if you were to fully accept the teachings of Jesus regarding forgiveness of others, as soon as you make the choice to forgive, there would most likely be numerous temptations to abandon that practice. Pride, anger, hurt, the lies of the evil one and the world will all try to deter you from an act of complete forgiveness of others. Or take, for example, the call to live completely detached from “riches.” Jesus’ teachings on true spiritual poverty versus true spiritual riches require a depth of conversion that is difficult to obtain. Thus, the “lure of riches” is very hard to overcome.
In the end, if your soul is truly fertile ground and if you allow the most pure and complete teaching of the Gospel to penetrate your soul so as to change you in every way God wants to change you, then this means that you have overcome each and every temptation thrown at you. You have rejected the temptations that come from greed, pride, anger and the like. You have embraced humility, rejected worldly esteem, dismissed anxiety and worry and are directed only by the powerful, gentle, holy, and clear Voice of God in your life. This requires much prayer, much interior purification, total dedication and unwavering obedience to the Word of God spoken to you both through the Gospels and in the depths of your conscience. And even among those who achieve this level of holiness, the fruit born in their lives is dependent upon how fully and habitually they live by the guiding Word of God.
Reflect, today, upon this high calling from our Lord. Achieving the goal of having exceptionally rich soil in your heart for the Word of God requires unyielding commitment and determination. There are numerous temptations that will fight against the creation of a fertile heart. Try to look at your own heart today. Be honest. How fertile is it? Does the Word of God grow there? And if so, does it grow to superabundance? Commit yourself to the goal of becoming that rich soil in which the Word of God is sown that not only bears good fruit but bears good fruit that is a hundredfold.
My demanding Lord, You desire that every soul of every person You have created become the most pure and most fertile ground in which the seed of Your Word can grow and produce fruit in superabundance. Please help me to commit myself to this radical depth of holiness, dear Lord. My life is Yours. Please purify me, change me, mold me and produce in me an abundance of good fruit. Jesus, I trust in You.
Friday 16th Ordinary Time
2023
Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, open my heart so that I might receive your Word and hear it in a new way today. Come Holy Spirit, help me learn what you want to teach me through this parable.
1. Learn Something New: We may have heard this parable many times, but God is speaking to us anew each time we hear it. We can ask God what he is trying to reveal to us today, at this very moment. Praying with Scripture changes our hearts: “Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). How is the Holy Spirit calling me to deeper conversion by hearing Jesus explain this Gospel? How can I increase my love of God and my neighbor by praying with this parable today?
Bài Tin Mừng hôm nay cho chúng ta thấy Thiên Chúa giống như một người nông dân tốt và đại lượng, người mà đã quá cao thượng và hiểu biết nhiều trong lĩnh vực gieo trồng trên đất ruộng của mình, Ngài đã không tiếc bất cứ điều gì để cứu chuộc con người; Ngài đã trao phó tất cả mọi thứ trong tay Chúa Giêsu, Người đã được ví như hạt giống được gieo vào đất tốt (cái chết và sự chôn lấp), với sự phục sinh lành thánh của Ngài, đã trở thành cuộc sống và sự sống lại của chúng ta.
Thiên Chúa là một người nông dân biết cách chờ đợi, Thời gian thuộc về Thiên Chúa Cha, vì Ngài là người duy nhất biết được về ngày giờ (Mc 13:32) của những vụ thu hoạch, gặt hái mùa màng. Thiên Chúa cũng đang chờ đợi, và chúng ta cũng phải chờ đợi khi những hy vọng của chúng ta đã được thiết kế trong ơn cứu độ của Thiên Chúa., như thánh Giacôbê đã nói: “ Kìa xem nhà nông, họ kiên nhẫn chờ đợi cho đất trổ hoa sinh trái với hoa màu quý giá: họ phải đợi cả mưa đầu mùa lẫn mưa cuối mùa” (Giacôbê 5: 7). Thiên Chúa chờ đợi mùa gặt hái trong sự phát triển của những cây Ngài đã trồng trong ân sủng của Người. Và chúng ta cũng phải gắn liền với cuộc sống tâm linh của chúng ta; Bằng những ân sủng của Thiên Chúa chúng ta cũng phải cộng tác với Ngài bằng cách cho Ngài hợp tác với chúng ta và không nên chống lại tất cả tác động biến đổi này của Thiên Chúa.
Once we open ourselves to the Word of God, we will grow in knowledge and understanding like the seed growing infertile soil. If we harden our hearts to what God hopes for us, then like seed in parched land that seed will not grow. Nothing happens. When we close our minds and refuse to accept His word, we do not leave room to consider anything else. When we widen our vision, we become part of something bigger than ourselves.
Our Lord is so generous to us. He continually showers His blessings upon us. He wants to share His life and His love in everything that we do. It is a continuous experience of birth and rebirth. We are made whole and new all over again.
Jesus said to his disciples: “Hear the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the Kingdom without understanding it, and the Evil One comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground…” Matthew 13:18–20
After preaching the Parable of the Sower to the crowds and then explaining to His close disciples (likely the Twelve) the purpose of parables, Jesus, in today’s Gospel, offers them an interpretation of the parable. He speaks clearly and personally to them because they are open—their hearts are properly disposed to receive the truth.
The parable reveals four kinds of hearts: hardened, shallow, distracted, and receptive. By presenting these four interior dispositions, with only one being ideal, Jesus shows that becoming receptive to the Word of God takes effort, humility, and grace. The first three types reflect a progression of deepening receptivity, but each falls short. The final type, the good soil, represents the goal to which all hearts are called.
The first—represented by seed sown on the path—refers to those whose hearts are so hardened that God’s Word cannot enter. Their ears hear the Word of God—as symbolized by the sower sowing seed on the path—but the soil of their hearts has been trampled by many sins and self-centered habits, so the seed cannot penetrate. As a result, they do not understand the Gospel, nor do they seek to understand. This might even refer to some who attend church, hearing the readings and the homily, yet remain unmoved by the Gospel.
My Divine Sower, You sow the seed of Truth generously and abundantly. You are always speaking to me, revealing Your Love and Your perfect Will, yet I am often hardhearted, shallow, or distracted. Please till the soil of my heart and make me receptive to all You reveal, so that my life may bear an abundance of good fruit for Your Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for the gift of your Word, which you lovingly sow in the hearts of your children. Prepare my heart to receive your truth with humility, to understand your wisdom, and to allow your grace to transform my life. Remove the hardness, distractions, and anxieties that prevent your Word from taking root within me. May my life become rich soil that bears abundant fruit for your Kingdom.
1. Incomprehension and Tribulation: The Parable of the Sower is one of the parables that Jesus explains to his disciples. Every image is packed with deep meaning. The hearing of the Word of God is not reserved for those who will understand it and bear a fruitful harvest. Jesus first distinguishes three poor responses to the sowing of God’s Word. A first group hears the Word of God but does not understand it. Just as the seed sown on the path remains on the surface, so also the Word of God will not be welcomed by some hearts due to incomprehension. The person doesn’t make the Word their own. In this case, the Evil One, the devil, easily steals away the seed of the Word of God and tempts the person with other words that they readily make their own. A second group hears the Word and receives it with joy. But these converts do not have deep roots. Because of this lack of roots, when tribulation and persecution come due to beginning to live according to God’s Word, the recent convert falls away. Has my conversion to Jesus in discipleship only been superficial? Is my conversion a surface excitement, a house built on sand that cannot withstand the rough weather of difficulties, doubts, temptations, and ridicule? “Only roots, and not a superficial enthusiasm, can offer permanence and strength” (Leiva-Merikakis, Fire of Mercy Heart of the Word: Volume II, 235).
“The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” Matthew 13:22–23
Today, Jesus clarifies for His disciples the meaning of His parable told to the crowds. He explains the meaning of the seed sown on the path, on the rocky ground, among the thorns and on the rich soil. Quoted above are the last two of those explanations. When we look carefully at the meaning of the seed sown into the rich soil, we see that these are those who hear, understand and bear fruit. And the fruit that is born is in varying degrees. One thing that this parable tells us is that hearing and even understanding the Word of God is not enough. There are many temptations we will face that will hinder God’s Word in our lives. Let’s briefly consider each.
First, there are many people who have been blessed to hear the Word of God. There are many who have been to religious education classes, have been taught by parents and others, have attended Church services but have failed to allow what they have heard to penetrate deeply to the point that they understand. To hear the Word of God is very different from understanding the Word of God. One reason for this is that the pure Word of God, when heard and understood, challenges us to the core of our being. If one truly understands God’s Word, then that person cannot remain indifferent. They must change. And they must change in a complete way. Failure to do so means that it is impossible for good fruit to be born in their life to the degree God wants.
But understanding and changing is not even enough. This is because the enemies of our soul, traditionally spoken of as the world, the flesh, and the devil, will powerfully attack any person who receives the Word of God and decides to abide by that Word. For example, if you were to fully accept the teachings of Jesus regarding forgiveness of others, as soon as you make the choice to forgive, there would most likely be numerous temptations to abandon that practice. Pride, anger, hurt, the lies of the evil one and the world will all try to deter you from an act of complete forgiveness of others. Or take, for example, the call to live completely detached from “riches.” Jesus’ teachings on true spiritual poverty versus true spiritual riches require a depth of conversion that is difficult to obtain. Thus, the “lure of riches” is very hard to overcome.
In the end, if your soul is truly fertile ground and if you allow the most pure and complete teaching of the Gospel to penetrate your soul so as to change you in every way God wants to change you, then this means that you have overcome each and every temptation thrown at you. You have rejected the temptations that come from greed, pride, anger and the like. You have embraced humility, rejected worldly esteem, dismissed anxiety and worry and are directed only by the powerful, gentle, holy, and clear Voice of God in your life. This requires much prayer, much interior purification, total dedication and unwavering obedience to the Word of God spoken to you both through the Gospels and in the depths of your conscience. And even among those who achieve this level of holiness, the fruit born in their lives is dependent upon how fully and habitually they live by the guiding Word of God.
Reflect, today, upon this high calling from our Lord. Achieving the goal of having exceptionally rich soil in your heart for the Word of God requires unyielding commitment and determination. There are numerous temptations that will fight against the creation of a fertile heart. Try to look at your own heart today. Be honest. How fertile is it? Does the Word of God grow there? And if so, does it grow to superabundance? Commit yourself to the goal of becoming that rich soil in which the Word of God is sown that not only bears good fruit but bears good fruit that is a hundredfold.
My demanding Lord, You desire that every soul of every person You have created become the most pure and most fertile ground in which the seed of Your Word can grow and produce fruit in superabundance. Please help me to commit myself to this radical depth of holiness, dear Lord. My life is Yours. Please purify me, change me, mold me and produce in me an abundance of good fruit. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, open my heart so that I might receive your Word and hear it in a new way today. Come Holy Spirit, help me learn what you want to teach me through this parable.
1. Learn Something New: We may have heard this parable many times, but God is speaking to us anew each time we hear it. We can ask God what he is trying to reveal to us today, at this very moment. Praying with Scripture changes our hearts: “Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). How is the Holy Spirit calling me to deeper conversion by hearing Jesus explain this Gospel? How can I increase my love of God and my neighbor by praying with this parable today?
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