In today’s Gospel, Jesus likens the “word of the kingdom” to seed sown on the ground. Some of the seeds never take root and are eaten by birds. Some fall on rocky ground, spring up too quickly and then wither away, while others are choked by thorns. But some seeds take root in good soil and produce precious crops. This would be a familiar picture to many of Jesus’ disciples, who lived by farming, and knew how much work was involved in getting their food from the soil.

The word of God’s kingdom is good news, but there are many reasons why it can fail to take root in our hearts. We can be distracted by the things of the world, or discouraged by the opposition that we face. As disciples, we are all called to sow the seed – to spread the good news of God’s kingdom, by witnessing to our faith with our lives. Sometimes our witness will be fruitful, sometimes the seed will fall on stony ground. The parable of the sower tells us not to be discouraged, but to persevere in sowing generously, as Christ himself did.