THE WORD
1 Tim 6: 13–16 / Lk 8: 4–15
When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to him, he spoke in a parable. “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed feel on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell on good soil, and then it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold.” After saying this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” Then his disciples asked him what the meaning of this parable might be. He answered, “Knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been granted to you; but to the rest, they are made known through parables so that ‘they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.’
“This is the meaning of the parable. The seed is the word of God. Those on the path are the ones who have heard, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, but they have not root; they believe only for a time and fall away in time of trial. As for the seed that fell among thorns, they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit. But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance.””
IN OTHER WORDS
Januarius was arrested during the Diocletian persecution in 305 AD. With his companions he was thrown into a den of lions, but the beasts would not touch them. Eventually, the soldiers decided to kill them by chopping off their heads. Legend says that after their death someone collected some of Januarius’ blood. Today the martyr’s blood is contained in an ampoule and is kept in a bank vault in Naples, Italy. A few times a year, especially on this day, the dried blood miraculously liquefies reminding the faithful of St. Januarius’ perseverance in persecution.
Today’s 1st Reading reminds us of the need for perseverance. Paul encourages Timothy to persevere in the “Ephesian situation” (heresy, unhealthy speculation, controversies, corruption, greed, abandonment of the Christian faith). Timothy should persevere because 1) he has been called to eternal life, 2) at his baptism Timothy committed himself to Christ and to his service, 3) he is to remain true to his good confession, and 4) the God whom Timothy serves, who witnesses his work, is in absolute control of life’s situation.
For some of us, life situations oftentimes offer occasions of despair rather than consolation. There is so much corruption and greed. Our social and spiritual lives are challenged by controversies. Amidst these realities, however, we are encouraged today to persevere. Like Timothy we are encouraged to persevere because our calling is to be with God and our baptism is our commitment to service. Likewise, we need to persevere because God is true to us and He is in control of life’s situations. We must live in the here and now and believe that those of us who persevere will receive the reward of eternal life.
Fear may overtake us, but to stand for the faith and for Christ is a victory far more desirable than the other victories in life.
- Mario Rasonabe, SVD (Rome, Italy)
The Word in other words 2015
An annual project of Logos Publications, The WORD in Other Words Bible Diary contains daily scripture readings and reflections written by priest, brothers, and sisters of the three congregations founded by St. Arnold Janssen (the SVD, SSpS, and SSpSAP). It hopes to serve as a daily companion to readers who continually seek the correlation of the Word of God and human experience.
