September 17th, 2011

Jesus, helpe me grow in your love, learning to serve you through my service to my family and those you have placed in my life. I ask you to weed out all the worldly temptations that prevent me from seeking a more intimate relationship with you. Amen Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 8:4-15. When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable. A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled, and the birds of the sky ate it up. Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew, it withered for lack of moisture. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew, it produced fruit a hundredfold." After saying this, he called out, "Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear." Then his disciples asked him what the meaning of this parable might be. He answered, "Knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been granted to you; but to the rest, they are made known through parables so that 'they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.' This is the meaning of the parable. The seed is the word of God. Those on the path are the ones who have heard, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts that they may not believe and be saved. Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear, receive the word with joy, but they have no root; they believe only for a time and fall away in time of trial. As for the seed that fell among thorns, they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit. But as for the seed that fell on rich soil, they are the ones who, when they have heard the word, embrace it with a generous and good heart, and bear fruit through perseverance. Often as a new mom, because I felt how important my job was and is, I forgot and forget to seek a deeper relationship with God. I let the anxieties over my abilities as a mom and my changing role in the world drown out God's voice. I think more than any other season of my life I let worldly anxieties prevent me from maturing. Today I feel especially blessed for my "new" friends and mentors. I feel like God placed them in my life so that I could still hear His voice. Jesus, please bless every new mom with Friendship, surround them with Love and security, so that their anxieties don't prevent them from growing closer to you. Amen