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TODAY’S WORD…

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Jesus said,

“A sower went out to sow his seed.

As he sowed, some fell…amongst thorns

and the thorns grew with it and choked it…”

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And Jesus cried out,

“Listen, anyone who has ears to hear!”

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– Luke 8:5a,7,8b (JB)

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REFLECTION…

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This is how Jesus Himself explained the meaning of this part of the parable of the sower:

“The seed is the word of God.

[…] As for the part that fell into thorns,

this is people who have heard,

but as they go on their way

they are choked by the worries and riches and pleasures of life,

and do not reach maturity.”  (Lk 8:11b,14)

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If only we would pay more attention to what Jesus teaches us.

He pleads with us to listen to Him

and to hear with more intent and purpose!

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He wants us to always be well aware of how worries, fixation on riches, and the unrestrained pursuit of the pleasures of life

can “choke” our faith.

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Trying to serve two masters distracts us from the Truth,

and leads us away from God.

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QUOTE…

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“‘No, Father, I am not good soil; I am a disaster, and I am full of stones, of thorns, of everything.’

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Yes, maybe this is so on the surface,

but free a little piece, a small piece of good soil, and let the seed fall there and watch how it grows.

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I know that you want to be good soil, true Christians, authentic Christians,

not part-time Christians: starchy, aloof and Christian in appearance only.

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I know that you don’t want to be duped by a false freedom,

always at the beck and call of momentary fashions and fads.

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…in silence, let us all look into our hearts

and each one of us tell Jesus that we want to receive the seed of His Word.

Say to him: ‘Jesus, look upon the stones, the thorns, and the weeds that I have,

but look also upon this small piece of ground that I offer to You so that the seed may enter my heart.’

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In silence, let us allow the seed of Jesus to enter our hearts.

Remember this moment.

Everyone knows the seed that has been received.

Allow it to grow, and God will nurture it.”

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– Pope Francis

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REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

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Jesus, remove the stones, the thorns, and the weeds that I have in my heart.

Jesus, renew my heart, that I may gladly welcome the seed of Your Word.

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