Wednesday of Third Week in Ordinary Time

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Sentence

Speak, Lord, your servant is listening: you have the message of eternal life.

Morning Reading: Mark 4:1-20 (NLT)

Once again Jesus began teaching by the lakeshore. A very large crowd soon gathered around him, so he got into a boat. Then he sat in the boat while all the people remained on the shore. He taught them by telling many stories in the form of parables, such as this one:

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some of the seed fell on a footpath, and the birds came and ate it. Other seed fell on shallow soil with underlying rock. The seed sprouted quickly because the soil was shallow. But the plant soon wilted under the hot sun, and since it didn’t have deep roots, it died. Other seed fell among thorns that grew up and choked out the tender plants so they produced no grain. Still other seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted, grew, and produced a crop that was thirty, sixty, and even a hundred times as much as had been planted!” Then he said, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.

He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:

‘When they see what I do, they will learn nothing. When they hear what I say, they will not understand. Otherwise, they will turn to me and be forgiven.’”

Then Jesus said to them, “If you can’t understand the meaning of this parable, how will you understand all the other parables? The farmer plants seed by taking God’s word to others.

“The seed that fell on the footpath represents those who hear the message, only to have Satan come at once and take it away.

“The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word.

“The seed that fell among the thorns represents others who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life, the lure of wealth, and the desire for other things, so no fruit is produced.

“And the seed that fell on good soil represents those who hear and accept God’s word and produce a harvest of thirty, sixty, or even a hundred times as much as had been planted!”

Morning Prayer

Gracious God: you have revealed to us the mystery of your Kingdom. Make me attentive to the teaching of your Word that it may produce an abundant harvest in me.

+ Lord, deliver me from evil – that I might hear and happily receive your Word.
+ Lord, break my hard heart – that your Word may put down deep roots within me.
+ Lord, reign in me – that I may seek your Kingdom first before all else.
+ Lord, bear good fruit in me – that I may be your faithful witness in all I do.

Lord God, penetrate my inmost being with your Word and Spirit, so that my way of life may always be one of faithful service to you. Through my Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

“Let Your Kingdom Come” – Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir

Blessing

Yours, O Lord, is the Kingdom, the power, and the glory forever and ever. Amen!

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!