New Catholic Illustrated Bible: The Parable of the Sower

The New Catholic Illustrated Bible

Editor’s note: Today, we continue our special three week feature for our readers. For each of the next few Wednesdays, I will be sharing with you an excerpt from the amazing new resource, The New Catholic Illustrated Bible. Published by Saint Benedict Press, edited by Amy Welborn, and masterfully illustrated by Lars Frederiksen, this newly released Catholic edition story Bible is a treasure that belongs in every home. For the next few weeks, we’ll be sharing stories and illustrations directly from The New Catholic Illustrated Bible. I hope you enjoy them, and that you’ll strongly consider making this beautiful resource a part of your family’s spiritual library. LMH

The Parable of the Sower -- Mark 4, Matthew 13, Luke 8

AGAIN Jesus began to teach the people by the side of the sea. the crowd was so large that he got into a boat and put it out from the shore. the multitude of people was facing him, listening from the shore. he spoke to them in many parables, or stories.

The Parable of the Sower

Jesus said to them, “Listen, a farmer went out to sow his grain, scattering it as it fell.

“As he sowed it, some of the seed landed on the path. the birds came and ate it up.

“Some of the seed fell where the ground was rocky. It did not have much soil to grow. Immediately it sprang up, because the soil was shallow. When the sun came up, it scorched the plants. they withered away because there were no roots to nourish the plants.

“Other seed fell among the thorns, which grew up and choked the plants out so that they did not produce a crop.

“But some seed fell on the good soil. It grew up and produced a crop, with thirty, sixty, or a hundred
times as much as was planted.”

Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let him listen.”

The Parable of the Sower

Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve apostles and some others, they asked him about the parable. he said to them, “You have been given the privilege of knowing the kingdom of God. Other people will only be given parables so that ‘they see and don’t see, they hear and don’t understand, so they will not turn to me and let me forgive them.’” [Isaiah 6:9–10]

He said, “You don’t understand this parable? how will you understand any parable?

“The farmer goes out to sow the word of God. there are some along the path who hear God’s word, but Satan comes immediately and snatches away the word that was sown in their hearts.

“As for the seed sown on the rocky ground: some people, as soon as they hear God’s word, immediately receive it with gladness. they believe for a little while, but when they face persecutions because of their faith in the word, they fall away.

“For some, God’s word falls among the thorns. they hear it, but the cares and pleasures of life, the deceitfulness of riches, and desires for other things choke out the word so that it cannot produce anything!

“As for the seed sown on the good soil: there are those who hear the word of God and welcome it. they produce good fruit, thirty, sixty, or one hundred times as much as was sown. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear!”

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