Lectio Divina for The Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Read the following Scripture two or three times:
Matthew 13:1-23
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 an 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 disciples approached him and said, “Why do you speak with them in parables?” He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted, To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why
I speak to them in parables because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.
Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them which says:
You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted and I heal them.
“But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.
“Hear then 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 last only for a time. When some tribulations 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.”
Meditation
After the reading, take some time to reflect in silence on or more of the following questions:
– What word or words in this passage caught your attention?
– What in this passage comforted you?
– What in this passage challenged you?
Contemplation
Read the Scripture again, followed by this reflection:
What conversion of mind, heart, and life is the Lord asking of me?
And he spoke to them at length in parables.
How does God speak to me? Ho can I become more attentive to God’s voice?
Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you.
How do I learn about my faith and the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven?
Who has shared ths knowledge with me?
When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away.
What distracts me from my faith and God’s Word? How can I grow in steadfastness and hope?
After a period of silent reflection recite the Lord’s Prayer.
Living the Word This Week
How can I make my life a gift for others in charity?
Consider contributing your time, treasure, or talent to a local agency that aids the poor, such as the
Saint Vincent de Paul Society or Catholic Charities.
