Daily Reflection for Wednesday January 27, 2021
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Wednesday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/012721.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Hebrews 10: 11-18
Responsorial: Psalm 110: 1-4
Gospel: Mark: 4: 1-20
Our reflection on Wednesday’s readings:
“The sower sows the word. . . .Those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit” Mark 4: 14 and 20
I have suffered with debilitating migraine headaches for as long as I can remember. Three days of blurred vision, vomiting and pain so sharp that I tightly tie a cloth tourniquet around my head with the knot at my temple. Thankfully, there is now migraine medication that helps.
What does one do with a pain-filled day wasted in bed besides feel guilty for not being present for spouse and children? There is lots of time to meditate and pray. Usually, I offer up my pain to God along with prayer. But, like the sacrifices of the priests in the first reading, my offerings were nothing compared to that of Jesus. His sacrifice gave us forgiveness of sins. That changed the dynamics of our relationship with God.
The Gospel today is the parable of the sower who sows the seed that falls on a walking path, rocky ground and among thorns to die or it is sown on fertile ground where it can grow and bear fruit. In explaining the parable to his disciples, Jesus tells them the sower sows the word. From the Gospel of John and other scripture, we understand that Jesus is the Word, and our hearts are where the seed falls. Our hearts can be fertile ground open to receive the seed and to bear fruit, or our hearts can be hardened, unwilling to accept the words of Jesus.
How does today’s Gospel tie with the first reading? In Paul’s letter to the Hebrews, he reminds us that as part of God’s covenant with us, his words and laws are written in our hearts. It is in our hearts that the word of God can bear fruit. A change of heart is needed for the word to bear fruit. It is now personal.
When we focus our efforts on preparing the soil and opening our hearts, then the word can grow in us so we will bear fruit in the world.
How can we break up and turn the soil of our hardened hearts to germinate and bring to life the teachings of Jesus? Life gives us those opportunities. All the time…when we look.
Blessings to you,
Ruth Mytty