Daily Gospel Reflection for August 10, 2020

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Reflection by Cynthia E. Brewer

Today's Gospel: John 12:24-26 - Feast of St. Lawrence

I just joined the Master Gardeners program in our county, so Jesus’ parables about seeds and sowing are doubly interesting to me. If a seed remains in a cool, dry, protected place, it will remain a single seed. If we remain in a safe, protected place, we’ll remain the same person we’ve always been. But Jesus wants us to grow, even when growing can be frightening and difficult.

I like my life just the way it is. I don’t want to learn new habits or make hard decisions. I’m happy being a seed on a shelf, but that is being lazy and boring.

Am I willing to live a boring life to remain safe? Isn’t God calling me to stretch, to do the things I don’t like—to “hate” this life?

Just like the seed that will only remain a seed, my “do nothing life” won’t be much of a life unless I let God plant me—in the dark, dirty soil of His garden and water me until I die to my wants, wishes, and comforts.

The seed that dies to itself will germinate. Water and soil, basically mud, will feed it until it pushes forth its shoot—breaking out of the darkness into the sun. The plant absorbs sunlight through its leaves and manufactures sugars to make it grow its stalk until it brings forth abundant seed, perhaps thirty, sixty, or even 100-fold!

So, let’s give ourselves to the farmer, God, who will sow us in the dirt of this world. We may end up pretty muddy, but hey, we’re not supposed to love this world for itself anyway.

May the true Son nourish us by His grace, so we’ll produce much fruit for His Body, the Church. In this way, we will truly find a life worth living and loving.

My “do nothing life” won’t be much of a life unless I let God plant me in the dark, dirty soil of His garden and water me until I die to my wants, wishes, and comforts. #dailygospel

Ponder:

Am I willing to get off the safe shelf, fall to the ground, and die to myself?

Pray:

Lord, please give me the courage to stretch and be planted where You wish me to grow.

Copyright 2020 Cynthia E. Brewer

My name is Cynthia Brewer. My husband and I have one child in heaven following a miscarriage. We are members of St. Mary’s Parish in Victoria, Texas. After 13 years as editor of The Catholic Lighthouse newspaper, I now work from home. I’ve finished two prayer journals which I hope to publish soon.