The Parable of the Sower is, in Matthew, internally llinked to Jesus' prayer of thanks in 11:25-26. It is called a "mystery of the kingdom" that Jesus explains to his disciples. The liturgy of the 15th Sunday in OT (A) focuses on the Word of God. Like the seeds of the sower, the Word of God yields its fruit in hearts that are capable of receiving it. Read the article on Isaiah 55:10-11 and the one on Matthew 13:1-23 and use the following as your guides for reflection.
1. One of the strange things about the sower in the parable is his disregard of where the seeds he is sowing will land. He throws his seeds in all directions. His actions however will pay off with that piece of land that will bear a large amount of yield for the harvest.
Reflect. Let us say the sower is anyone who is involved in the work of evangelization. Which evangelizing activity is most similar to the work of the sower? After thinking about the sower's utter generosity in sowing his seed, would you think that the work of evangelizing chooses behorehand its audience? If you are the one involved in that work of evangelization, how would you mirror the generosity of the sower?
2. In 13:11 and 13:17, Jesus echoes what he already said in a previous chapter, 11:25-26. Review that passage from Matthew and re-read 13:11 and 13:17 in that light.
Reflect. Jesus explains his parables to his disciples, disclosing its meaning to them as privileged knowledge. If you consider yourself a disciple of the Lord, what do you feel about this privilege? Since the mysteries of the kingdom are disclosed to you, what are you going to do about it? Do you find here a relationship to another text that has been proclaimed in the previous Sundays, that is, abou what was heart in whispers that should be proclaimed from housetops?
3. The seed of the sower reached four kinds of soil, but in only one kind of soil do the seeds produce their effect.
Reflect. If the types of soil described are also different kinds of disciples (disciples are "hearers"), what type of soil are you now? How do you propose to change in such a way that the seed that has been sown in you may yield its fruits?
If you are the good soil that produces a yield. Which fruits have the gospel produced in you?
