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Matthew 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.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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When a person begins telling a joke, the listeners around him or her immediately prepare themselves to laugh. They lean forward, focus on every word, and joyfully wait for the punch line.
And when delivered, they laugh.
They prepared themselves to do so.
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This is the type of listener Jesus blesses in today’s Gospel – one who is prepared to respond to his Word. It’s the type of person who leans forward when the Lord speaks, who focuses on every word, and who joyfully waits for his instruction.
And when given, they act.
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How responsive am I to the Word of God?
Many of us hear it every day. Does it change us? Does it sink into us? Or is it blown away by the stress and busyness of life?
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“Some seed fell on rich soil,” Jesus says, “and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”
Much like a person waiting for a punchline, may we lean in, listen to the Word of God, and joyfully respond when he speaks.
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Image credits: (1) Depositphotos (2) The Optimist Daily (3) Theirworld