Daily Readings Reflection for 9/19/09

Reflection on the Daily Readings for 9/19/09 by Fr. Bertrand Buby, SM

Today’s Readings



Scripture: Lectionary # 448. Sat. of 24th week.  I Timothy 6:13-16. Psalm
100:2.3.4.5  Luke 8:4-15:

Mark is the source for most of Matthew's Gospel and for about one third of
Luke's Gospel. He also serves these later Gospels as an outline.  Today,
the earliest parable recorded by Mark is taken up by Luke; it is the
parable of the sower and the effect of the seeds on the various types of
soil.  Both Matthew and Luke have this parable and took in from Mark.  John
has an interesting statement that will complete this reflection and add to
our meditation on parables and statements of Jesus.

Luke abbreviates the parable; he has this as a literary person and artist
with words.  As we know, he paints scenes with the way in which he writes
as we have seen in his presentation of Mary's portrait as the Blessed
Virgin Mary. In all three presentations of this parable the message is the
same.  Here is what one of the best scholars on Luke says, "It is a
hallmark of Lucan discipleship that disciples not only hear the parables of
God's kingdom, but are recipients of the singular grace of knowing what
God's kingdom means for everyday Christian living. The context, esp. of
vv16-18, shows that the Lucan communities have not ceased to preach the
word of God to others, who are locked in on the level of merely hearing the
word."  (New Jerome Biblical Commentary, Robert J. Karris, O.F.M. p.697).

The message is the same no matter what Evangelist presents it. In listening
to it not only with our ears but also with our hearts we are able to
produce a rich harvest.   We are able to absorb God's word (the seed) and
even complete the harvest with the best results of a hundred percent
production!  Luke is quite optimistic on this cooperation of the soil with
the seed on the best ground.  "The seed or good ground are those who hear
the word in a spirit of openness, retain it, and bear fruit through
perserverance."   We are able to link the successful hundredfold to the
fact of perservering with the message God gives us through the words of
Jesus who is the Word of God. This parable thus initiates us into
witnessing by our words and our actions that the kingdom of God is present
among us. John's Gospel which does not use parables has this important
statement from Jesus which links the success to the Paschal Mystery of
Jesus which is to be lived in our lives and thus produce a hundredfold for
entrance into eternal life.  Jesus says in John 12:24: "Amen, Amen, I say
to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains
alone; but if it dies it bears much fruit." Amen.