First Reading (2 Samuel 7:4-17)
Reading from the Second Book of Samuel.
In those days, the word of the Lord came to Nathan in this way: “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: Would you build me a house to dwell in? I have not lived in a house since the day I brought up the people of Israel from Egypt to this day, but I have been moving about in a tent and a tabernacle. Wherever I have moved about among all the people of Israel, did I ever speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people, saying, “Why have you not built me a house of cedar?”‘
Now therefore thus you shall say to my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.
Moreover, the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you.
And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'” In accordance with all these words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.
The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel (Mk 4:1-20)
— Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, Jesus began to teach again by the sea of Galilee. A very large crowd gathered around him so that Jesus got into a boat and sat in it while the crowd stood on the shore.
Jesus taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching, he said to them: “Listen! The sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Other seed fell on rocky ground where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly because the soil was shallow, but when the sun rose, it was scorched, and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain.
And other seeds fell into good soil and produced grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.” And he said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” And when he was alone, those around him with the twelve asked him about the parables. And he said to them, “To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside, everything is in parables so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand, lest they should turn and be forgiven.”
And he said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them. And these are the ones sown on rocky ground: the ones who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy. And they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away.
And others are the ones sown among thorns. They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. But those that were sown on the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold.”
— The Gospel of the Lord.
— Praise to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers in Christ, may the peace of the Lord be with you. It is a joy to be here today, sharing the Word of God that guides, inspires, and transforms us. Before delving into the readings from the First Reading, taken from the Second Book of Samuel, chapter 7, verses 4-17, and the Gospel according to Mark, chapter 4, verses 1-20, allow me to connect our daily experiences with these divine teachings.
Imagine, for a moment, being in a garden. A garden that represents our lives, with its seasons, flourishing joys, and challenges like thorns that sometimes make us question divine purpose. Yet, in the midst of this garden, God sows the seeds of His Word, and we are called to be fertile soil for these seeds to grow and bear fruit.
Just as the gardener cares diligently for his plants, God looks upon each of us with love and care. Precisely about this divine care, the First Reading speaks to us. King David, after consolidating his reign, felt the desire to build a temple for God. However, God reveals to the prophet Nathan that He does not need a temple made by human hands because His presence is already with us, walking alongside us as the greatest of companions.
This lesson is profound and timeless. Often, we seek to build material temples for God in our lives, while He invites us to build spiritual temples, where His love and His Word find a home. God desires to dwell in our hearts, not in stone structures, and He promises stability and an eternal kingdom for those who welcome Him.
Yet, how is the soil of our hearts? Are we willing to be fertile ground for divine seeds? This question leads us to the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus gifts us with the parable of the sower. The sower goes out to sow, casting his seeds on different types of soil: by the wayside, on rocky ground, among thorns, and on good soil.
What a powerful image! How often do the seeds of the Word fall into our hearts, but the soil is not ready to receive them? At times, we are like the wayside soil, hardened by indifference, and the seeds cannot penetrate. On other occasions, we are like the rocky soil, enthusiastic at first, but without deep roots, giving up at the first signs of difficulty.
And there is also the danger of being like the soil full of thorns, where the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word. But, thanks be to God, there is hope because we can choose to be good soil, prepared to receive and nurture the divine seeds.
Now, envision a wise farmer who, while preparing the soil, removes the rocks, pulls out the thorns, and cares diligently to ensure the soil is ready to receive the seed. This is our call! We must be active participants in preparing the soil of our hearts, removing the rocks of hardness, pulling out the thorns of worldly concerns, and caring with love so that the Word of God may grow and bear fruit in our lives.
It is not an easy task, I acknowledge. There are challenges, temptations, and moments when we are tested. However, the divine promise is that, when we are good soil, the harvest will be abundant, bringing forth fruits of love, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Our lives are marked by different seasons, just like the garden we visualized earlier. Sometimes, we face rigorous winters, storms that seem never-ending. In other moments, we experience the sweetness of spring, where hope blossoms, and new opportunities arise. Let us be encouraged by the certainty that God is with us in all seasons, and His Word is the light that guides us.
As we look at the Gospel text, we notice that Jesus not only presents the parable but also interprets it for his disciples. He reveals the depth of the Word of God and invites us to have attentive ears, to understand with open hearts. May we be disciples who seek not only to hear but to comprehend and live the Word.
Just as the seed that falls on good soil produces fruit, we are also called to bear fruit in our spiritual life. And these fruits are not just for our own benefit but to be shared with others, making the garden of the community even more beautiful and abundant.
Allow me now to share a story that illustrates the importance of being good soil for divine seeds. There was a small village where people cultivated their lands with love and dedication. A wise elder from the village always emphasized the importance of preparing the soil with care, removing the rocks and weeds.
A young farmer, eager to have a bountiful harvest, decided to ignore the elder’s advice and planted his seeds in rocky soil. At first, everything seemed fine. The seeds sprouted quickly, but without deep roots, the plants withered in the heat of the sun.
Disappointed, the young farmer sought the wise elder, who welcomed him with love and understanding. The elder explained that the seeds of the Word of God also need prepared soil, a heart willing to receive and nurture. The young farmer, humbly, learned the lesson and, by preparing his soil more carefully, reaped abundant fruits that blessed the entire village.
Brothers and sisters, may this story remind us of the importance of being good soil for the Word of God. May we remove the rocks of hardness, pull out the thorns of worldly concerns, and care diligently for the soil of our hearts.
Throughout the week, I invite each of you to reflect on the condition of your spiritual soil. In what areas of your life does the soil need preparing to receive the divine seed? In what aspects can we be more diligent in caring for the soil of our hearts?
Furthermore, it is crucial to remember that the spiritual journey is a collective one. Just as a tree benefits from the proximity of other trees in the forest, our community grows and flourishes when we are united in love and mutual service. Let us cultivate together the soil of our community, so that all may reap abundant fruits.
In concluding this reflection, allow me to recall a fundamental truth: God is the great gardener of our lives. He sows His seeds of love, mercy, and hope in us. May we be faithful collaborators, preparing the soil of our hearts for these seeds to germinate, grow, and blossom.
Let us now reflect in silence on the words that have been shared. May the Holy Spirit illuminate our hearts and guide us in the practical application of these truths in our daily lives.
May the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
