Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast

Summary: Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time – A Time of Lectio Divina for the Discerning Heart Podcast<br> As you begin, take a deep breath and exhale slowly.  For at least the next few moments, surrender all the cares and concerns of this day to the Lord.<br> Say slowly from your heart “Jesus, I Trust In You…You Take Over”<br> Become aware that He is with you, looking upon you with love, wanting to be heard deep within in your heart…<br> From the Holy Gospel According to St. Matthew 13:18-23<br> Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are to hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the evil one comes and carries off what was sown in his heart: this is the man who received the seed on the edge of the path. The one who received it on patches of rock is the man who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy. But he has no root in him, he does not last; let some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, and he falls away at once. The one who received the seed in thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this world and the lure of riches choke the word and so he produces nothing. And the one who received the seed in rich soil is the man who hears the word and understands it; he is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.’<br> What word made this passage come alive for you?<br> <br> What did you sense the Lord saying to you?<br> Once more give the Lord an opportunity to speak to you:<br> Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are to hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the evil one comes and carries off what was sown in his heart: this is the man who received the seed on the edge of the path. The one who received it on patches of rock is the man who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy. But he has no root in him, he does not last; let some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, and he falls away at once. The one who received the seed in thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this world and the lure of riches choke the word and so he produces nothing. And the one who received the seed in rich soil is the man who hears the word and understands it; he is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.’<br> What did your heart feel as you listened?<br> What did you sense the Lord saying to you?<br> Once more, through Him, with Him and in Him listen to the Word:<br> Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You are to hear the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom without understanding, the evil one comes and carries off what was sown in his heart: this is the man who received the seed on the edge of the path. The one who received it on patches of rock is the man who hears the word and welcomes it at once with joy. But he has no root in him, he does not last; let some trial come, or some persecution on account of the word, and he falls away at once. The one who received the seed in thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this world and the lure of riches choke the word and so he produces nothing. And the one who received the seed in rich soil is the man who hears the word and understands it; he is the one who yields a harvest and produces now a hundredfold, now sixty, now thirty.’<br> What touched your heart in this time of prayer?<br> What did your heart feel as you prayed?<br> What do you hope to carry with you from this time with the Lord?<br> <br> Our Father, who art in heaven,<br> hallowed be thy name.<br> Thy kingdom come.<br> Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.<br> Give us this day our daily bread,<br> and forgive us our trespasses,<br> as we forgive those who trespass against us,<br> and lead us not into temptation,<br>  but deliver us from evil.<br>