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SUNDAY
July 12, 2026
Liturgical Season
15th Sunday
Ordinary Time
Year A
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Biblical Reflections

THE JOURNEY OF THE WORD OF GOD IN MY HEART

Sunday, July 12, 2026

Listening the Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, open our minds and hearts to Your Word. Teach us to listen with faith, to welcome Your truth with joy, and to bear fruit through lives of love and service. May Your Word take root in us and lead us ever closer to Christ. Amen.

Listening the Word: Matthew 13:1-23

On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. 
Such large crowds gathered around him
that he got into a boat and sat down,
and the whole crowd stood along the shore. 
And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying:
"A sower went out to sow. 
And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,
and birds came and ate it up. 
Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. 
It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep,
and when the sun rose it was scorched,
and it withered for lack of roots. 
Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. 
But some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit,
a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. 
Whoever has ears ought to hear."

Reflection

This Sunday’s Gospel shows us the path of the Word of God in our heart. It is the main and fundamental adventure that allows us to live as children of God and to become missionaries of God’s Word. The Word of God frees us from our narrow thoughts and narrow situations into which we unfortunately get ourselves. It shows us an exciting horizon: to get a new life, capable of generating Life, following Jesus Christ the Sower. He is the Father’s missionary that sows with abundance His seed: He wants to reach out all the people, to free their hearts and so move forward towards the Kingdom of God.

The parable highlights the difficulties the Word of God encounters in our hearts. It is our heart that is compared to the soil where Jesus continually casts the seed; it is within our heart that these four types of soil—upon which the seed is sown—are found. All four types of soil exist within our hearts. Let’s consider each of them to understand better our different ways to listen the Word of God, knowing that is the last kind of soil – the rich soil – the one who produced fruit.

1. The seed that felt on the path and is eaten by the birds: This first situation arises whenever we destroy the Word of God in our hearts through a "that’s how it’s always been done" mindset, or whenever we think that nothing changes anyway—that if the Word of God doesn't align with our own thoughts, it is better not to listen. Or perhaps we think the Word isn't concrete, that it doesn't apply to our lives today. In this way, we do not allow ourselves to be changed; we close the door of our hearts to the Word. To overcome this first type of soil, we must ask the Word to give us FAITH—to foster FAITH in our hearts. FAITH IS THE NECESSARY MEDICINE.
2. The seed felt on rocky ground where it had little soil… lack of roots: Sometimes our hearts listen with joy the Word of God growing within us with enthusiasm. We feel engaged; we want to participate and come to pray. Yet, the first difficulty stops us. It makes us turn back. It is as if our hearts were made of stone: the first obstacle frightens us and causes us to withdraw into ourselves, making room for selfishness. The Word of God overcomes this temptation if we allow it the space to work and transform us. We know already that the more we leave the door open to God and to goodness, the more the Evil will try to erect threats and obstacles—that is the devil’s work. The remedy is HOPE—the hope that the Word generates within us. Never lose HOPE!
3. The seed felt among thorns: The thorns represent the deception of material things—our possessions and our wealth. The cares of the world can cause the things we own to become our idols: our mobile phones, our scooters, our cars... God’s Word helps us restore order to our hearts and place God at the center. We make use of things; we are not enslaved by them! God’s Word calls us to listen in a way that triumphs over the urge to possess, and the remedy in this instance is LOVE—Charity. A LOVE that is selfless and put into practice. A LOVE that opens our heart to generate life.
4. The rich soil that produces fruit: It is when we truly listen to the Word of God and give it room to generate life. Each person is good soil. Happiness lies in giving substance to the Word of God: in this way, through our lives, we can become the living presence of God for the others in order to be able to get freedom for our brothers and sisters too.

Deat brothers and sisters, let us ask the Word of God to change our hearts, so to be able to produce fruit and to be missionaries. We decide with our lives to follow Jesus the Sower and to sow the Good Seed everyday and everywhere.

Reflection Questions

  1. Which of the four types of soil best describes the condition of my heart today, and what is Jesus inviting me to change so that His Word may take deeper root and bear fruit?
  2. How can I live with greater faith, hope, and love this week so that God's Word is not only heard but also shared through my words, actions, and missionary witness?

Video

Fr. Alessio Crippa, SX

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