Reflection by Sandra Hernandez

In this weeks Gospel Jesus uses the example of the different kinds of soil where seeds are sown, to represent the depth of our openness and ability to receive the word of God into our hearts. The Gospels are not always understood at the first reading, rather we must think and reflect on them. It is as Jesus says “we indeed hear but do not understand, we shall indeed look but never see. How many times have we sat in church but not truly taken in the words we hear? When we hear the word of God but then do not truly accept them, it is just like the birds eating the seeds off the path, because it is not truly ingrained within us and evil influences will swoop down and take away what was not truly in our hearts. When we hear God's words and it brings us joy, yet we don't develop roots such as attending mass and receiving communion regularly, then just as the seeds that fell on rocky ground and were scorched, our faith can be taken through the trials, tribulations and challenges of this world we live in. When seeds are planted among thorns and are then choked by the thorns, it is like our faith being minimized in our hearts due to the wants and desires of the things in this world that overpower our belief in God's word. If God's words are received, believed, respected and followed our faith will be like the seeds that fell on good earth and produced much good fruit. For our lives to bear the “good fruit,” we must make the effort to truly listen, see and believe.