Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 26, 2024
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Hear 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.”
I seem to do better with my prayer life during the times of the liturgical year with clear focus and direction. For example, during Lent we have the beautiful light of Easter at the end of our sacrificial 40 days, and the four candles of Advent help us stay focused with our attention on the entrance of our Lord into humanity with us. Ordinary time is hard. It’s, well, ordinary. How do we remain in Christ with a clear purpose and preparedness in our hearts and minds on our Christian journey?
This gospel reading is meant to help us remember what every moment of our lives is for—to prepare ourselves so that we are ones with rich soil that can bear fruit and withstand any adversity this broken world puts in our midst. I have always felt that hard work pays off, and I have put this to the test in many aspects of my life. There is nowhere that hard work is more powerful, fruitful, and worth it than our relationship with Jesus. Preparing for the kingdom of heaven is not something we should procrastinate or wait for a certain season in our liturgical year to focus on.
Let’s get to church a few minutes early to truly prepare to receive the holy Eucharist. Let’s use the time on our commute to silence our hearts or pray the rosary before our work day begins. I pray that we utilize each and every day, even the ordinary ones, to prepare and work towards sowing seeds with rich soil. Nothing is more worth our time.
Prayer
Holy God, may the Word we proclaim guide us, the Eucharist we share unite us. We are called to be Christ’s healing presence in a divided world. Watch over us and guide us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day
Sts. Anne and Joachim were the parents of Mary and are the patron saints of grandparents.
We do not know much about Joachim and Anne—even their names have been handed on to us by tradition. The stories that have come down to us tell that they were likely well-off, and had been childless for most of their marriage. An angel appeared to them both to announce a birth in their old age, and Anne promised to dedicate the child to the service of God. Mary was their only child, and they presented her at the Temple when she was 3 years old, prefiguring the presentation of Jesus.
Though we know little about these people, the Church holds the parents of Mary in great esteem because they were the ones who taught her the faithfulness that she demonstrated in accepting God’s invitation to bear Jesus to the world.
Anne and Joachim are depicted in the Basilica in several places, including many wall murals that depict the life of Mary. They are shown here in this stained glass window from the Basilica, and their relics rest in the reliquary chapel there—including a piece from their house where they raised Mary.
Sts. Anne and Joachim, patron saints of grandparents—pray for us!