"BEGIN NOTHING ON EARTH UNLESS IT HAS ITS END IN HEAVEN;

DO NOT WALK ON PATH THAT DOES NOT LEAD TO HEAVEN.'

                                                           - Saint Sharbel Makhluf

 

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊    

Jeremiah 3:14-17

Come back,

Faithless people – it is Yahweh who speaks – for I am your master.

I will select one from a city and two from a family and bring you to Zion.

Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart,

who will feed you with knowledge and prudence.

And when you have increased and multiplied in the land in those days

 

– it is Yahweh who speaks – people will no longer speak of the Ark

of the Covenant of Yahweh; it will not be remembered or missed, nor shall it be made again!

Then they will call Jerusalem 'The Throne of Yahweh' and all the nations

will gather there to honor the name of Yahweh;

and no longer will they follow the stubbornness of their wicked hearts.

 

Jer 31:10, 11-12abcd, 13

The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.

 

＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊      

Matthew 13:18-23

Now listen to the parable of the sower.

When a person hears the message of the kingdom, but does not take it seriously,

the devil comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.

This is the seed that fell along the foot-path.

The seed that fell on rocky ground stands for the one who hears the word,

and accepts it at once with joy. But such a person has no roots, and endures only for a while.

 

No sooner is he harassed or persecuted because of the word, than he gives up.

The seed that fell among the thistles is the one who hears the word; but then,

the worries of this life and the love of money choke the word; and it does not bear fruit.

As for the seed that fell on good soil, it is the one who hears the word and understands it;

this seed bears fruit and produces a hundred, or sixty, or thirty times more."

 

Gospel Reflection ：

To listen rather than hear.

We often confuse hearing and listening, believing these two skills are the same.

Hearing involves using our ears to perceive sounds, distinguishing one sound from another.

On the other hand, listening requires an active engagement with what we hear,

emphasizing comprehension and its application in our daily lives.

Jesus used parables to connect with people, encouraging them to listen rather than hear.

 

His parables highlight the valuable lessons he taught about discipleship.

In our faith journey, it is essential to develop our listening skills.

We believe that the word of God is alive and actively influences our lives as believers.

Adopting a listening attitude means not only using our ears but, more importantly,

having a receptive heart that is willing to embrace the challenges of the Gospel.