The Feast of St Januarius.

 “A sower went out to sow his seed......As for the seed that fell among thorns, they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit." (Luke 8: 5......14).

Saturday 19th September 2020, 24th Week in Ordinary Time is also the feast of St Januarius. (+ 305). Italian. Bishop and Martyr under Emperor Diocletian. His dried blood liquufies miraculously several times a year. Even science and agnostics are confounded by this. Jesus our Savior still presents believers more than sufficient proofs like the liquification of the the blood of Januarius to strengthen their faith.

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. Because of unbridled affluence and materialism, they have eaten and grown fat and bloated. They heard 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 heard the word and preferred to dwell on the pandemics hoping that its interruptions of our lives be very brief and its effects be very short term.

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, 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