They tempted God in their hearts by demanding the food they craved. Yes, they spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the desert?” The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 13:1-98, today's readings).

"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.”

The Gospel acclamation spells out the parable that Jesus shares with the crowd: "The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower; all who come to him will live for ever." Christ, the sower, walks continuously among the soil of our souls, sowing the word of God. He walks among thorns, among our well-worn paths, among the rocky ground of hardened hearts where scorching heat withers roots. But some seed falls on rich soil, and from that the word of God produces more abundant fruit than we can possibly make grow by our own doing. God loved us first and, as he did for the Israelites, rains down bread from heaven "so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God.”

God, help me appreciate the parable Jesus shares with the crowd from a boat, an ancient Christian symbol for the Church. The last words of the parable give me hope, Lord, that your word will find a spot of rich soil softened by your gift of love. "But some seed fell on rich soil" sounds like an epilogue to a dark story that ends in hope, where lush vegetation begins to spring up and spread in a scorched and lifeless desert. Move my heart, Lord, to hear what my ears ought to hear as my soul trusts in you and the hundredfold fruits of your Spirit. Saint Bridget, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.