Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A. July 26, 2017.
1st Reading: Exodus 16:1-5.9-15.
The children of Israel set out from Elim, and came into the desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt. Here in the desert the whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “Would that we had died at the LORD’S hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread! But you had to lead us into this desert to make the whole community die of famine!” Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will now rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not. On the sixth day, however, when they prepare what they bring in, let it be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” Then Moses said to Aaron, “Tell the whole Israelite community: Present yourselves before the LORD, for he has heard your grumbling.” When Aaron announced this to the whole Israelite community, they turned toward the desert, and lo, the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud! The LORD spoke to Moses and said, “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread, so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God.” In the evening quail came up and covered the camp. In the morning a dew lay all about the camp, and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground. On seeing it, the Israelites asked one another, “What is this?” for they did not know what it was. But Moses told them, “This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.” The word of the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm:78(77):18-19.23-
24.25-26.27-28.
R/.The Lord gave them bread from heaven
Holy Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9.
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. 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.” The gospel of the Lord.
WEDNESDAY REFLECTIONS:
The “ears” Jesus speaks of are much more than our physical ears. He is speaking of our interior lives through which we are able to hear,comprehend, accept and choose His holy will. He speaks His Word to us in many ways. The question to ponder is whether or not we are listening and are ready to allow His Word to soak in. Only by an attentiveness to His Word can we embrace His will. Our souls must be like rich soil. This is a familiar image from Scripture, but it’s an image that is worth spending much time with in meditation. Rich soil in our souls is not easy to obtain. It’s much easier to be dry, thorny, rocky and unwelcoming soil. But to foster within ourselves a true richness and fertile soil requires much care and attention.
One of the most important places to begin, so as to create rich soil within our souls, is to strive for true humility. Humility is ultimately all about seeing the truth of who we are and, specifically, seeing the need for the grace of God in our lives. The humble admission that we are powerless without the grace of God is essential to creating rich soil within. From there, we must come to a point of total trust in God. When we first humble ourselves and recognize our total need for God, we will be in a position to trust Him when He speaks. And when He does speak, we will listen and obey with joy.
Together we pray: Lord, help me to become truly fertile soil for Your most holy Word. May I receive all that You speak and may the seed of faith be planted deep within. Help this faith to grow and to produce the blessings You wish to bestow. Jesus, I trust in You that You alone will heal our sick brethren and set them free. May the souls of our faithful departed brethren rest in perfect peace, amen.