“Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop — a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” – Matthew 13:8

       The first time I visited Guimaras Island was in 2007. I was amazed at how prolific mango trees grew in the orchards on this 8,000-hectare arable land. Known as “mango country,” Guimaras produces mangoes that are some of the sweetest and purest (pest-free) in the world. They have been served in the White House and Buckingham Palace. Thanks to the island’s fertile soil and balmy weather, mangoes are harvested all year round. Imagine a single mango tree that yields up to 2,000 kilos of fruits in its lifetime. Now imagine 400,000 mango trees that produce a total of 20 million kilos of fruits!

       I pray I could be like the good soil in Guimaras. I pray that through proclaiming God’s Word in print media, I may be able to help Him harvest countless souls so that His love may bear fruit in their lives. By His grace, I am able to touch lives one reader at a time today. That is why I continue to pray, read and contemplate on the daily readings, go to Mass at least thrice a week, seek support and prayers from my prayer group, and receive the sacraments — that the Lord may continue to enrich and nourish the “soil” that is me. Dina Pecaña (dpecana@yahoo.com)

Reflection: “What we plant in the soil of contemplation, we shall reap in the harvest of action.” (Meister Eckhart)

Lord of the Harvest, help me to be good soil where the seed of faith can grow and bear fruit.

St. Bridget, religious, pray for us.

This is a good text to reflect on if you have a poor self-image. The Lord wants to affirm us that we are neither accidents nor a waste of the air we breathe. Each of us has been created in love with a vision for our lives that is perfect. Unfortunately, sin will upset how we live that out, but this is not enough to cause us to become depressed. Instead it should galvanize us into action, knowing that we have a purpose, which was given to us by God Himself.

1 The words of Jeremiah, son of Hilkiah, of a priestly family in Anathoth, in the land of Benjamin. 4 The word of the Lord came to me thus: 5 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. 6 “Ah, Lord God!” I said, “I know not how to speak; I am too young.” 7 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. 8 Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord. 9 Then the Lord extended his hand and touched my mouth, saying, See, I place my words in your mouth! 10 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.

R: I will sing of your salvation.

1 In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2 In your justice rescue me, and deliver me; incline your ear to me, and save me. (R) 3 Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4 O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked. (R) 5 For you are my hope, O Lord; my trust, O God, from my youth. 6 On you I depend from birth; from my mother’s womb you are my strength. (R) 15 My mouth shall declare your justice, day by day your salvation. 17 O God, you have taught me from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds. (R)

All God asks us is to do our best. There is no excuse for not trying. I remember my parents at their angriest when I was too lazy to accomplish a task set for me or, worse, too apathetic to even approach thinking about getting it done. I do not want to stand before God on judgment day and have to try and explain sheer laziness or apathy regarding His will for my life.

The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live for ever.

1 On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. 3 And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, 6 and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. 7 Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. 8 But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. 9 Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Tobit 12-14

DISPOSED TO RECEIVE GOD’S POWER

The dramatic account of the prophet Jeremiah’s call by the Lord in today’s First Reading contains a noteworthy detail. After his protestations regarding his being young, incapable and undeserving, God extended His hand and touched Jeremiah’s mouth, saying, “See I place my words in your mouth!”

       The Gospel, on the other hand, is the familiar Parable of the Sower. God, the Divine Sower, never fails to scatter the seed of His Word upon our hearts. It all depends on our openness and receptivity, but the important thing in the first place is God’s indefatigable effort plus the seeds’ innate power to overcome every obstacle. The seed may meet with resistance and reversal of all kinds, yet it still yields a rich harvest.

       Our own feelings of unworthiness to join church organizations to be involved and to serve, or our accusations of hypocrisy versus churchgoers in general (a convenient excuse for us to skip our own religious obligation of church attendance) are exactly just that: feelings and excuses. In other words, while they may have a point, they are still not valid. All the more reason there is for the likes of us, sinful and undeserving people, to dedicate ourselves in humble and docile dispositions.

       We would do well not to entertain such feelings and excuses, or much less, to use them to justify our non-commitment. We have to let go of our false pretenses. The Lord will not be moved by them. The inherent potential of both His Word and His action knows no obstacles. The openness and availability we have before the Lord will be enough for Him to empower and commission us as workers in His fold, as He did to Jeremiah: “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.” Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you tend to make excuses when invited to prayer gatherings or other religious events? When will you make yourself available to God?

Grant me an open heart, Lord, to get involved in building Your Kingdom on earth.