Matthew 13:1 - 23 A Sower went out to sow.
That same day, Jesus left the house and sat by the lakeside, but such large crowds gathered round him that he got into a boat and sat there. The people all stood on the shore, and he told them many things in parables. He said, 'Listen, a sower went out to sow.
As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up at once, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away.
Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.
Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Anyone who has ears should listen!'
Then the disciples went up to him and asked, 'Why do you talk to them in parables?' In answer, he said, 'Because to you is granted to understand the mysteries of the kingdom of Heaven, but to them it is not granted. Anyone who has will be given more and will have more than enough; but anyone who has not will be deprived even of what he has. The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. So in their case what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah is being fulfilled: Listen and listen, but never understand! Look and look, but never perceive! This people's heart has grown coarse, their ears dulled, they have shut their eyes tight to avoid using their eyes to see, their ears to hear, their heart to understand, changing their ways and being healed by me.
'But blessed are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! In truth I tell you, many prophets and upright people longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it. 'So pay attention to the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the Evil One comes and carries off what was sown in his heart: this is the seed sown on the edge of the path. The seed sown on patches of rock is someone who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy. But such a person has no root deep down and does not last; should some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, at once he falls away. The seed sown in thorns is someone who hears the word, but the worry of the world and the lure of riches choke the word and so it produces nothing. And the seed sown in rich soil is someone who hears the word and understands it; this is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.'
This is the gospel of the Lord.
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Prayers of Intercession
We celebrate Christ who came to sow the seed of God’s word in the world, and we rejoice with him as we see everywhere around us the first-fruits of the Spirit.
May the words of truth take root in our hearts and grow to rich maturity. May we hear the Father’s will for us and act upon it; may we take our responsibility seriously to encourage and nurture one another in faith.
Lord Hear Us… Lord graciously hear us.
May every act of selfless giving and every search for truth be richly blessed and rewarded. May the word of God reach all ready to receive it, and let us set no boundaries hear as to who they might be.
Lord Hear Us… Lord graciously hear us.
May the heavenly Father make our homes places of love and growth, welcoming all who visit them and accepting and forgiving all nurtured there. May He help us through the quarrels and heartaches and remind us to honour one another.
Lord Hear Us… Lord graciously hear us.
We remember especially at this time the parishioners of St John Vianney's as they celebrate their last few Masses before they are welcomed to St Gregory’s may the keep in their hearts all the happy memories they have made in the last 71 yrs.
Lord Hear Us… Lord graciously hear us.
For all those who are sick, those on our prayer foundation list, and those in need of healing. May the Lord pour out his healing love on them and all those who care for them at home, in hospitals and care homes.
Lord Hear Us… Lord graciously hear us.
For all those who have died and those who mourn them and those whose anniversaries occur at this time. We remember especially
George Pringle & James O’Donnell
Lord Hear Us… Lord graciously hear us.
We will now say the Missionary Prayer together.
