Tuesday of week 17 in Ordinary Time
St Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception (1910 - 1946)
Gospel: Matthew 13:36-43
In today’s Gospel, Jesus explains that “the one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man,” and that the good seed represents the children of the Kingdom. God has already sown so much good seed within us: the grace of Baptism, His Word, the sacraments, faith, love, forgiveness, our vocation, and countless inspirations of the Holy Spirit. The question is whether we allow these seeds to grow or leave them neglected among the weeds of selfishness, distraction, resentment, and sin. Grace is a gift, but it also asks for our cooperation. We should not waste what Christ has planted in us. Every grace received contains the possibility of holiness when it is welcomed, protected, and allowed to bear fruit. Saint Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception shows us how even suffering can become fertile soil when offered to God in faith and love. At the end, Jesus says that “the virtuous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” Our calling is precisely this: to allow the good seed planted by Christ to mature within us until our whole life becomes its fruit and reflects His light. Let’s reflect: Am I carefully nurturing the good seed that Christ has sown in my heart, or am I allowing His graces to be wasted through distraction, selfishness, and lack of response?
Don Giorgio