Hebrews 10:11-18 / Mark 4:1-20

Today the evangelist Mark tells us about the parable of the sower that Jesus told the crowd and the explanation He gave to the apostles. Mark says that Jesus taught at length in parables, so that those outside would hear but not understand, so that they would not convert and not be forgiven.

The seed is the Word (of God that Jesus is preaching). The different soils are the people who hear the Word of Jesus, with their individual motivations. The birds that eat the seed up are Satan, who takes away the Word of Jesus. The rocks are a tribulation or persecution, which leads some to fall away. The thorns are the worldly anxiety, the lure of riches, and the craving for other things, which choke the Word of Jesus so that It bears no fruit. Finally, the rich soil are those who hear and accept the Word of Jesus and bear fruit.

Jesus is the sower par excellence! How admirable is His ability to speak about such profound and important subjects in language that is easy for ordinary people to understand. May our preachers be inspired by Jesus and be wise and creative in sowing the Word of God in today's times, considering the media, especially social networks. May we be rich soil, always accepting the Word of Jesus and bearing much fruit.

Today the author of the Letter to the Hebrews speaks to us of the one sacrifice of Christ that has made perfect forever those who are being consecrated. The author - citing the prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah - says that the Lord puts His Laws in the hearts and write them upon the minds, and the sins and evildoing He remembers no more. The author concludes by saying that where there is forgiveness, there is no longer offering for sin.

Let us exalt the mercy of God that was so clearly revealed to us through Christ! And may we know how to forgive one another, just as God forgave us in Christ!

Local: Springfield, MA, EUA

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