"WHOEVER FINDS GOD, FINDS EVERYTHING; WHOEVER LOSES GOD LOSES EVERYTHING." (ST ROBERT BELLARMINE, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH).
“When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable.
“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold.”
"After saying this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.”." (Luke 8: 5......14).
Saturday 17th September 2022 of the 24th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Robert Bellarmine of the Society of Jesus. (1542 - 1620). Italian. Bishop, Cardinal, Apologist and Patron Saint of Catechists.
Robert Bellarmine resided in Rome during most of his work life. The poor of Rome came to know him well and called him "the new poor one," reminiscent of St Francis of Assisi, the original poor man of Assisi. Bellarmine shared his table regularly with the poor of the city of Rome.
Bellarmine was the nephew of Pope Marcellus II. St Robert Bellarmine was a renowned scholar, a great apologist and contributed immensely to the Council of Trent and the reforms mandated by the Council.
In spite of all these encomiums, Bellarmine could say with Paul:
"By the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me has not been ineffective."
September 17th is also the feast of Hildegard of Bingen: (1098 - 1179). German. Benedictine. Virgin and Doctor of the Church. The incredibly talented Hildegard wore many hats: Mother superior, theologian, teacher and preacher, scientist, gynecologist, musician, etc. St Hildegard is the patron saint of musicians and writers.
Did you guess that the Sower in the Gospel for today (Luke 8: 4 - 15) is Jesus the Farmer? The seed is the word of God.
The seed that fell among thorns may be likened to those living today in western societies. Unbridled affluence and materialism have eroded the faith of Our Fathers. People hear the Pearl of the Gospel: "Seek first the kingdom of God and holiness of life above every other thing and all your needs shall be met. Stop worrying about tomorrow which you cannot control. Trust firmly in my Divine All Powerful Providence. (Cf Matthew 6: 33 - 34). We hear the word and prefer to be hearers only and not doers of the word.
Our ever merciful Savior continues to sow the word every day through the Sacred Scriptures, teachings from Sacred Tradition and Magisterium. But you too, you are a sower of the word whether you are a teacher, catechist, evangelist, nurse, housewife, politician, gabage collector, etc. Whatever you are or do, the Lord has entrusted you to partner with Him to transform the world today. How do you respond?
Daily Bible Verse @ Seekfirstcommunity.com
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