Daily Reflections

July 20, 2011
PARABLE OF THE GOOD SOWER

On May 8, 2010, Sr. Natividad Valdez, whom we call Apo Madre or Apo Miliang, of the Sister Servants of the Holy Spirit celebrated her 70th year in the religious life. Then on May 26, 2010, her family members and friends joined her in celebrating the Eucharist to thank the Lord for her 100th birthday, not just for giving Apo Madre a long life but a quality life as well. She remains alert and has a joyful disposition.
Wherever she was assigned, Apo Madre went and served with all her heart. Her fellow nuns say that she was capable of a terrible temper now and then, but she was also one who could readily laugh at herself and blend with everyone. And yes, she was one who accompanied everything with a deep sense of prayer. Apo Madre had no room for discouragement. She just went on and on... and she reaped a harvest of contentment and joy.
Our Gospel today is called the Parable of the Sower. The real lesson we must focus on is not from the type of soil but on the person of the Sower who went on scattering the seeds. In the end, his good disposition gave him a harvest: some thirty-fold, some sixty-fold, some a hundred-fold. Experts who study agriculture in Palestine say these results were miraculous since the average yield with the type of soil in Palestine is 7.5 percent.
Jesus narrated the parable to the first disciples so that they, like Him, should remain optimistic even as they face hardships and challenges in serving God and others.
Different kinds of soils —different types of character, levels of enthusiasm and receptivity, cultural adaptabilities — are encountered in mission. The difference, though, does not just depend on soils. The difference can also be created by the healthy and positive outlook of evangelizers. As many organizational and human resource experts today would put it: Amidst the challenges of work and the environment, one may either be simply reactive or proactive. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP

Reflection Question:
How do you take initial failures and rejections in your work, in your community? To which element of the parable are you more drawn to meditate: the soils, or the indefatigable character of the sower?

Lord, may I be like You who never tire of sowing good work, in season and out of season. Amen.

St. Severa, pray for us.