The Seed that fall on Rich Soil.

The seeds that fell on rich soil

The seeds that fell on rich soil. 

"On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. 

"And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up.

"Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots.

p style =color:red;>"Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. 

"But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.”

Jesus gives the explanation of the Parable of the Sower to His disciples. 

“Hear then the parable of the sower. The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. 

"The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away.

"The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit.

"But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” (Matthew 13: 1 - 23).

Sunday 16th July in the 15th Week of Ordinary Time. 

Our key Scripture is the Parable of the Sower. A sower goes out to sow and encounters four types of soil or four locations:

#1 Pathway.

#2 Rocky ground.

#3 Thorny Shrub.

#4 Rich soil.

The Responsorial Psalm 65 reveals how God carefully prepares the ground for sowing. God is not a careless Farmer. 

"You [God] have visited the land and watered it; greatly have you enriched it. God’s watercourses are filled; you have prepared the grain.  Drenching its furrows, breaking up its clods, softening it with showers, blessing its yield." (Psalm 65).

God cannot be blamed for the hardness of heart found in soils that failed. It is a mystery that out of the four types of soil, only one produced a harvest. 

The harvest of a hundred, sixty, thirtyfold depend on the understanding of the message of the Gospel and the commitment to it.

Why did Jesus say à propos the Parable of the Sower? "Whoever has ears ought to hear.” Faith comes from hearing the word of God. In the first Reading from Isaiah 55, God promises "My word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it."

God has promised to be merciful to everyone who seeks Him. That promise will not return to God void.

O that today you will listen to His voice, harden not your hearts.

July is the Month we honor the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. 

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of the Seraphic Doctor, St Bonaventure, OFM.

The Feast of St Bonaventure OFM, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. 

"Jacob gave his sons this charge: “Since I am about to be taken to my people, bury me with my fathers in the cave that lies in the field of Ephron the Hittite, the cave in the field of Machpelah, facing on Mamre, in the land of Canaan, the field that Abraham bought from Ephron the Hittite for a burial ground.

"There Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried, and so are Isaac and his wife Rebekah, and there, too, I buried Leah—the field and the cave in it that had been purchased from the Hittites.”

"Now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful and thought, “Suppose Joseph has been nursing a grudge against us and now plans to pay us back in full for all the wrong we did him!” 

So they approached Joseph and said: “Before your father died, he gave us these instructions: ‘You shall say to Joseph, Jacob begs you to forgive the criminal wrongdoing of your brothers, who treated you so cruelly.’ Please, therefore, forgive the crime that we, the servants of your father’s God, committed.”

"When they spoke these words to him, Joseph broke into tears. Then his brothers proceeded to fling themselves down before him and said, “Let us be your slaves!” But Joseph replied to them: “Have no fear. Can I take the place of God? Even though you meant harm to me, God meant it for good, to achieve his present end, the survival of many people. 

"Therefore have no fear. I will provide for you and for your children.” By thus speaking kindly to them, he reassured them.

"Joseph remained in Egypt, together with his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years. He saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation, and the children of Manasseh’s son Machir were also born on Joseph’s knees.

"Joseph said to his brothers: “I am about to die. God will surely take care of you and lead you out of this land to the land that he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

"Then, putting the sons of Israel under oath, he continued, “When God thus takes care of you, you must bring my bones up with you from this place.” Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten."

(Genesis: 49:29-32; 50:15-26a)

Saturday 15th of July 2023 in the 14th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Bonaventure, OFM. 

St Bonaventure (1221 - 1274). Italian. Franciscan, Bishop, Cardinal and Doctor of the Church. Bonaventure is known as the Seraphic Doctor because of his mastery of mystical theology. He became friends with St Thomas Aquinas, another doctor of the Church in the University of Paris. St Bonaventure who succeeded St Francis of Assisi as the Superior General of the Franciscans. He wrote the first thorough biography of the great saint.

St Bonaventure, a great man of God by all standards was a very meek and humble man. Although Superior General of the Franciscans for 17 years, Cardinal of the Church, eminent Theologian and Professor of Theology at the University of Paris and later to become one of the 37 Doctors of the Church, Bonaventure is childlike in character.

Today we close the chapter on Jacob and Joseph and his brethren. Genesis ends in Chapter 50 with God establishing a family with the Call of Abraham and choosing Jacob as a strong link in the chronology of Jesus Christ, the Son of Abraham, Son of David. 

We note how God established Joseph as type and shadow of Jesus Christ. 

Consider these traits of Joseph. 

• Joseph was the favorite of his father, Jacob. 

• He was envied by his brothers. 

• Joseph was sold for 20 silver pieces. Jesus was sold for 30.

• Both Jesus and Joseph were imprisoned, tortured and humiliated. 

• Joseph was elevated and promoted to become the Prime Minister of Egypt. 

• Jesus was raised from the dead and became Head of the Church and King of the Universe. 

Genesis is above all the story of God's powerful, merciful and mysterious Providence. This Divine Providence rules all things benevolently from beginning to end. 

The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July. 

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Kateri Tekakwita, Virgin and Lay Religious.

The Feast of St Kateri Tekakwita, Virgin and Lay Religious. 

Jacob tasted the faithfulness of God. 

"Israel set out with all that was his. When he arrived at Beer-sheba, he offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

"There God, speaking to Israel in a vision by night, called, “Jacob! Jacob!” He answered, “Here I am.”

"Then he said: “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you a great nation.

"Not only will I go down to Egypt with you; I will also bring you back here, after Joseph has closed your eyes.”

"So Jacob departed from Beer-sheba, and the sons of Israel put their father and their wives and children on the wagons that Pharaoh had sent for his transport.

"They took with them their livestock and the possessions they had acquired in the land of Canaan.

"Thus Jacob and all his descendants migrated to Egypt. 

"His sons and his grandsons, his daughters and his granddaughters—all his descendants—he took with him to Egypt.

"Israel had sent Judah ahead to Joseph, so that he might meet him in Goshen. 

"On his arrival in the region of Goshen, Joseph hitched the horses to his chariot and rode to meet his father Israel in Goshen. 

"As soon as Joseph saw him, he flung himself on his neck and wept a long time in his arms. And Israel said to Joseph, “At last I can die, now that I have seen for myself that Joseph is still alive.” 

(Genesis 46:1-7, 28-30). 

Friday 14th July 2023 in the 14th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Kateri Tekakwita. 

The Church commemorates the life of St Kateri Tekakwita. 

St Kateri Tekakwita (1656 - 1680). Born near New York. Daughter of a Mohawk chief. Kateri died at the age of 24. She had great devotion to the Eucharist and Jesus Crucified. She is known as the "Lily of the Mohawks" and is the patron saint of ecologists, environmentalists, and Native Americans.

In our key Scripture for today from Genesis 46, we begin to discern the character of God. Remember that Jacob is the son of Isaac and Isaac is the son of Abraham. So Jacob and his forebears are new believers in God. They are learning who this God of Abraham is. 

God is revealing His personality through His conversations with Jacob. 

"Then he said: “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you a great nation.

"Not only will I go down to Egypt with you; I will also bring you back here, after Joseph has closed your eyes.”

LESSON #1 OF GOD TO JACOB: GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HIS PROMISES. 

What does it mean that God is a Father who keeps His promises?

You grow in faith when you learn from experience that God is faithful to His promises. 

As you read the word of God, note and mark the verses and passages that celebrate God's faithfulness to His promises. In our key Scripture for today, when Israel (Jacob) saw his son Joseph face to face, he celebrated God's faithfulness.

God promised Simeon that he would not die until he sees Jesus. When Simeon carried Jesus in his arms, he said:
"Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace." (Luke 2: 29).

As you start storing the truth of God's faithfulness in your mind, the power of the word of God starts affecting the way you think and act. "His words are spirit and life; they effect what they mean as does any divine word," says  Blessed Charles de Foucauld.

God kept all His promises to Abraham, Isaac, Israel, David, Mary, Simeon, etc. God is a Father who keeps His promises. Trust Him.

"The word of the Lord remains for ever: What is this word?
It is the Good News that has been brought to you." (1 Peter 1: 25).

The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July. 

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor.

Feast of St Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor. 

I AM YOUR BROTHER JOSEPH. 

"Judah approached Joseph and said: “I beg you, my lord, let your servant speak earnestly to my lord, and do not become angry with your servant, for you are the equal of Pharaoh. My lord asked your servants, ‘Have you a father, or another brother?’ 

"So we said to my lord, ‘We have an aged father, and a young brother, the child of his old age. This one’s full brother is dead, and since he is the only one by that mother who is left, his father dotes on him.’

"Then you told your servants, ‘Bring him down to me that my eyes may look on him. Unless your youngest brother comes back with you, you shall not come into my presence again.’ 

"When we returned to your servant our father, we reported to him the words of my lord.

“Later, our father told us to come back and buy some food for the family. So we reminded him, ‘We cannot go down there; only if our youngest brother is with us can we go, for we may not see the man if our youngest brother is not with us.’

"Then your servant our father said to us, ‘As you know, my wife bore me two sons. One of them, however, disappeared, and I had to conclude that he must have been torn to pieces by wild beasts; I have not seen him since. If you now take this one away from me, too, and some disaster befalls him, you will send my white head down to the nether world in grief.’”

"Joseph could no longer control himself in the presence of all his attendants, so he cried out, “Have everyone withdraw from me!” Thus no one else was about when he made himself known to his brothers. But his sobs were so loud that the Egyptians heard him, and so the news reached Pharaoh’s palace. “I am Joseph,” he said to his brothers. 

“Is my father still in good health?” But his brothers could give him no answer, so dumbfounded were they at him.

“Come closer to me,” he told his brothers. When they had done so, he said: “I am your brother Joseph, whom you once sold into Egypt. But now do not be distressed, and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here. It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you.”(Genesis 44:18-21, 23b-29; 45:1-5). 

Thursday July 13th 2023 in the 14th Week of Ordinary Time is the feast of St Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor. 

(973 - 1024). German. Crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 1014 by Pope Benedict VIII as Emperor Henry II. He was a powerful man of the world, a man of war and international politics. He became a saint.  It shows that anyone can become a saint. Henry used his wealth and power to promote the Kingdom of God by supporting missionary work. In spite of his cares of the earthly Roman Empire, his gaze was on Heaven, the eternal Kingdom.

Our key Scripture today from Genesis 44 & 45 is perhaps one of the most dramatic in the Old Testament. It is a story of Reconciliation and the awesome power of Divine Providence. 

“I am your brother Joseph, whom you once sold into Egypt. But now do not be distressed, and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here. It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you.”

The Responsorial Psalm 155 seals the insight for us:

"When the Lord called down a famine on the land and ruined the crop that sustained them,
He sent a man before them, Joseph, sold as a slave."

Is Divine Providence still at work today? CERTAINLY! 

Think of the founding and history of the United States of America. Think of the immigration and multiracial population. Think of the plurality in religious faith. It is one great story in the operation of Divine Providence. America as Egypt is God's work and experiment. 

God desires that we honor the Precious Blood of His Son Jesus Christ in July. 

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Go to Joseph.

Go to Joseph. 

"When hunger came to be felt throughout the land of Egypt and the people cried to Pharaoh for bread, Pharaoh directed all the Egyptians to go to Joseph and do whatever he told them.

"When the famine had spread throughout the land, Joseph opened all the cities that had grain and rationed it to the Egyptians, since the famine had gripped the land of Egypt.

"In fact, all the world came to Joseph to obtain rations of grain, for famine had gripped the whole world.

The sons of Israel were among those who came to procure rations.

"It was Joseph, as governor of the country, who dispensed the rations to all the people. 

"When Joseph’s brothers came and knelt down before him with their faces to the ground, he recognized them as soon as he saw them. But Joseph concealed his own identity from them and spoke sternly to them.

"With that, he locked them up in the guardhouse for three days.

"On the third day Joseph said to his brothers: “Do this, and you shall live; for I am a God-fearing man. If you have been honest, only one of your brothers need be confined in this prison, while the rest of you may go and take home provisions for your starving families. But you must come back to me with your youngest brother. Your words will thus be verified, and you will not die.”

"To this they agreed. To one another, however, they said: “Alas, we are being punished because of our brother. We saw the anguish of his heart when he pleaded with us, yet we paid no heed; that is why this anguish has now come upon us.”

"Reuben broke in, “Did I not tell you not to do wrong to the boy? But you would not listen! Now comes the reckoning for his blood.” 

"The brothers did not know, of course, that Joseph understood what they said, since he spoke with them through an interpreter. But turning away from them, he wept."

Wednesday July 12th 2023 in the 14th Week of Ordinary Time. 

In the first Reading, we see God's Divine Plan, Purpose, Design, Providence in action. 

"When the LORD called down a famine on the land and ruined the crop that sustained them, He sent a man before them, Joseph, sold as a slave."  (Psalm 105:  16 - 17)

God's plan for us allows hardships in order to equip us adequately for our future mission. 

"Accept your trials as discipline from a Father training you as a son."  (Cf Hebrews 12: 7). Think of Joseph in Egypt, David, Jacob, Daniel. 

The time ⌚ of fulfillment will surely come.

Birth of Isaac, Premiership of Joseph in Egypt, Kingship of David Birth of John the Baptist are all time of fulfillment. 

Joseph the Prince of Egypt is a prefiguration of Jesus Christ. 

"The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes'?"  (Matthew 21: 42). 

Honor the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July. 

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

The Feast of St Benedict, OSB.

The Feast of St Benedict the Abbot. 

The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few. 

"A DEMONIAC who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. 

"The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”

"But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.”

"Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness.

"At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. 

"Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

 (Matthew 9: 32 - 38).

Tuesday, July 11th  2023 of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of a pivotal figure in the history of Christianity: St Benedict of Nursia, Abbot. (480 - 547). Italian and founder of the Benedictine Order.

His twin sister St Scholastica embraced religious life and became a leader in monastic movement for women.

St Benedict is the co-patron saint of Europe. He is also the patron saint of monks, witchcraft, diseases among others. His rules for monastic life is still widely used. His motto is: "Pray and Work."

"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few."

The Master of the harvest, God the Father sent Jesus to preach the Good News. Jesus trained and sent Apostles to spread the Gospel.  St Benedict heard the Call and believed it by faith. He was commissioned to preach the word and Benedict founded monasteries and left a lasting legacy for the Church 

How about you and me? Evangelization is not an option for us. Because we are baptized, we must evangelize. 

Evangelize this July by spreading the message of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ. 

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com

Jacob the Torchbearer of the Messianic Promises.

If You bless me Lord I will be Your servant forever. 

"Jacob departed from Beer-sheba and proceeded toward Haran. When he came upon a certain shrine, as the sun had already set, he stopped there for the night. Taking one of the stones at the shrine, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep at that spot. 

"Then he had a dream: a stairway rested on the ground, with its top reaching to the heavens; and God’s messengers were going up and down on it. 

"And there was the Lord standing beside him and saying: “I, the Lord, am the God of your forefather Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you are lying I will give to you and your descendants. 

"These shall be as plentiful as the dust of the earth, and through them you shall spread out east and west, north and south.

"In you and your descendants all the nations of the earth shall find blessing. 

"Know that I am with you; I will protect you wherever you go, and bring you back to this land. I will never leave you until I have done what I promised you.”

"When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he exclaimed, “Truly, the Lord is in this spot, although I did not know it!”

"In solemn wonder he cried out: “How awesome is this shrine! This is nothing else but an abode of God, and that is the gateway to heaven!”

"Early the next morning Jacob took the stone that he had put under his head, set it up as a memorial stone, and poured oil on top of it. He called the site Bethel, whereas the former name of the town had been Luz.

"Jacob then made this vow: “If God remains with me, to protect me on this journey I am making and to give me enough bread to eat and clothing to wear, and I come back safe to my father’s house, the Lord shall be my God. This stone that I have set up as a memorial stone shall be God’s abode.” (Genesis 28: 10 - 22a).

Monday July 10th 2023 in the 14th week of Ordinary Time. 

In our key Scripture for today from Genesis 28: 10 - 22a, we witness the full anointing of Jacob as the Torchbearer to the Promise that God made to Abraham. God's powerful, mysterious Providence has prepared Jacob for this hour with the help of Rebecca. 

There are no accidents in God's designs and purposes. Everything is Providence. 

"The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

"Abraham became the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers." (Matthew 1: 1 - 2)

The Church honors the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ in July. 

For Devotion, Litany of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus Christ and other prayers, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2023/04/devotion-to-most-precious-blood-of.html?m=1

Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com