by Fr. Dmitri, New Zealand

The Sower

Saturday 16 May 2009 (8 Pachons; 8 Bashans)

Enough then, of worrying about tomorrow. Let tomorrow
take care of itself. Today has troubles enough of its own.
(Matt.6:34)

If you know that you are the Son of God then you will not sin, for a son should be like his father. (Anon)

Indignation has taken hold of me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law.
Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.
I remember Your name in the night O Lord, and I keep Your law.
This has become mine, because I kept Your precepts.
(Anon)

The one who does not resist evil has the virtue of Indurance inside him.
He also has the virtue of Patience and that faith in God's action and interference.
(HH Pope Shenouda III)

And Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger,
and he who believes in Me shall never thirst."
(John 6:35)

Remember the last things, and stop hating, corruption and death,
and be faithful to the Commandments.
(Sirach 28:6)

Repentance is reconciliation with the Lord by the performance of good deeds which are the opposite of sins.
(Anon)

Purge it with fragrant virtues and the aroma of grace.
Then, when the couch is green you can call the Heavenly Groom to rest in it.
(Mystery of Godliness)

REFLECTION

Let us strive to make the present moment beautiful.
Let us especially regret the smallest amount of time that we waste or fail to use in loving God.

Lord God, help us to remember that yesterday is gone forever and tomorrow may never come.
Let us live in the present and strive to do Your will. (Francis de Sales & John of the Cross)

HOMILY:

THE SOWER.

Verily, verily, I say unto you: Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but, if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. (John 12:24)

Why does a sower cast seed on earth? That the wheat may die and decay? No; that it may live and bear fruit. Sowing the seed, the sower does not think about death and decay of his seed but of its life and fruitfulness, and therefore sows his seed with joy.

The Sower is Christ the Lord, and men are His wheat. There are many other sorts of seed on earth, but none more precious than wheat. Why did the Lord sow us over the earth? That we should die and decay? No; that we should live and bring forth fruit. He mentions our death incidentally; mentions it as a condition of our life and fruitfulness.

The sower's aim is not death but life. But the seed must first die and rot; and He mentions this only in passing. He reminds us that the Gospel leads us to life and fruitfulness. About this latter, He speaks to us more fully, for He knows that we are not so aware of it and that we are suffocated by ignorance and doubt.

He not only speaks to us about life, but also shows us what life is. By His Resurrection, He shows us more clearly than the sun both life and fruitfulness. And the whole history of His Church is a map of life. O Invincible Lord of life, save us from the death of sin. To Thee be glory and praise now and ever unto the Ages of Ages.
AMEN!

Today's Readings:

Evening: Psalm 128:1-2; Gospel Luke 11:17-23.
Morning: Psalm 145:10; Gospel John 7:31-36.
Liturgy: Ephes.1:1-14; 1 John 4:15-5:1; Acts 9: 36-43;
Psalm 14:4; Gospel John 7:14-24.