Gospel of the Sunday (Luke 8:4–15)
And when a very great multitude was gathered together and hastened out of the cities unto him, he spoke by a similitude: The sower went out to sow his seed.
And as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And other some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it had not moisture. And other some fell among thorns; and the thorns growing up with it choked it. And other some fell upon good ground; and being sprung up, yielded fruit a hundredfold.
Saying these things, he cried out: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples asked him what this parable might be. To whom he said: To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables, that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. And they by the way side are they that hear; then the devil cometh and taketh the word out of their heart, lest believing they should be saved. Now they upon the rock are they who when they hear receive the word with joy; and these have no roots; for they believe for a while, and in time of temptation they fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they who have heard, and going their way are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and yield no fruit. But that on the good ground are they, who in a good and perfect heart, hearing the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit in patience.
Saint Gregory the Great observes that this parable needs no explanation, since Eternal Wisdom Himself has been pleased to unfold its meaning. What remains for us is to profit by this divine instruction, and to become that good ground in which the heavenly seed may bring forth an abundant harvest.
How often has this seed been trodden under foot by those that passed by, or carried away by the birds of the air! How often has it found our heart like a rock, incapable of yielding moisture, or like a thorny soil, fitted only to choke!
We have listened to the Word of God; we have taken delight in hearing it; and we have drawn from it wholesome conclusions concerning ourselves. We have often received this Word with joy and readiness, and at times it has even taken root within us. Yet something has ever intervened to hinder its growth. Henceforth it must not merely grow, but it must also bear fruit.
The seed that has been entrusted to us is such that the divine Sower has a right to expect from it a hundredfold return. If the soil — that is, our heart — be good; if we take the pains to prepare it by availing ourselves of the means which the Church places at our disposal; then shall we be able to offer our Lord an abundant harvest on that great day when He, rising triumphantly from the tomb, shall come to share with His faithful people the glory of His Resurrection. Dom Guéranger
Ancient French Hymn
The days that are past have run their course;
the days of holy abstinence return.
The season of restraint is now at hand:
let us seek our Lord with purified hearts.
By hymn and humble confession of our sins
our sovereign Judge is moved to mercy.
He will not refuse forgiveness
to those who lowly ask His grace.
The servile yoke of Pharaoh,
the chains of cruel Babylon,
have long enough been borne.
Let the free man seek his native land:
the heavenly Jerusalem.
Let us flee from this long exile;
let us dwell with the Son of God.
Is it not the servant’s glory
to be made co-heir with his Lord?
O Christ, be Thou our guide through life.
Remember that we are Thy sheep,
for whom Thou, the Shepherd true,
didst lay down Thy life in death.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son,
and glory equal to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen.