Tuesday, February 14 : Saint John Chrysostom

Christ shows us in the parable of the sower that his words are addressed to everyone without distinction. Just as the sower of the parable does not distinguish between the different sorts of ground but scatters seed on every side, so our Lord does not distinguish between rich and poor, wise and foolish, careless and assiduous, courageous and cowardly, but addresses himself to all, and though he knows well what is to come, he strives hard on his part in such a way as to be able to say: “What more was there to do that I had not done?” What is more, our Lord speaks this parable to encourage his disciples and teach them not to let themselves become demoralized, even if those who welcome the word are fewer than those who waste it. This is how it was for the Master himself who, in spite of knowing the future, never ceased to scatter his seed. But, you may say, what is the use of scattering it among thorns or on rocks or on the path? If it were a question of a material seed and a material ground then there would be no point. But when it concerns souls and the Word, then it is a wholly praiseworthy act. One would rightly blame a laborer from acting like this: rock cannot become earth, a path cannot but be a path or thorns be thorns. But it is not so in the spiritual domain: rock can become a fertile land; the path can no longer be trampled by the passers-by but turn into a fertile field, the thorns be pulled up to allow the seed to ripen freely. If this were not so, the sower would not have scattered his seed as he did.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team