Friday of week 16 in Ordinary Time
Saint Charbel Makhlouf, Priest
Gospel: Matthew 13:18-23
In today’s Gospel, Jesus explains that the seed of God’s Word bears fruit only when it is received by a heart that truly hears and understands. Hearing the Word is more than listening to Scripture; it means allowing God’s message to enter deeply enough to influence our choices, correct our attitudes, and transform the way we live. The rich harvest does not depend on how much of the Word we hear, but on how deeply we allow it to take root within us. A receptive heart keeps returning to the Word, pondering it, protecting it from distractions, and patiently putting it into practice. Saint Charbel Makhlouf offers a beautiful example of such fertile soil: through silence, prayer, and faithful communion with God, the Word became a living reality in him and produced the fruits of holiness. God continues to sow generously in our hearts every day. Our task is to become good soil, to listen attentively, understand with faith, and translate what we receive into concrete acts of love. Then even a single word from God, deeply welcomed, can yield an abundant harvest in our lives. Let’s reflect: Do I merely hear the Word of God, or do I allow it to take root, transform my life, and bear a rich harvest through my actions?
Don Giorgio