Gospel (Mk 4,1-20) - At that time, Jesus began to teach along the sea again. An enormous crowd gathered around him, so much so that he got into a boat and sat down in the sea, while the whole crowd was on land along the shore. He taught them many things in parables and said to them in his teaching: «Listen. Behold, the sower went out to sow. While he sowed, some fell along the road; the birds came and ate it. Another part fell on the stony ground, where there was not much soil; and immediately it sprouted because the soil was not deep, but when the sun rose, it was burned and, having no roots, withered. Another part fell among the brambles, and the brambles grew, suffocated it and it did not bear fruit. Other parts fell on good soil and bore fruit: they sprang up, grew and yielded thirty, sixty, a hundredfold." And he said: «Whoever has ears to hear, listen!». Then when they were alone, those who were around him together with the Twelve questioned him about the parables. And he said to them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you; for those who are outside, however, everything happens in parables, so that they look, yes, but do not see, listen, yes, but do not understand, so that they do not convert and be forgiven". And he said to them, “You do not understand this parable, and how can you understand all the parables? The sower sows the Word. Those along the way are those in whom the Word is sown, but when they hear it, Satan immediately comes and takes away the Word sown in them. Those sown on stony ground are those who, when they hear the Word, immediately welcome it with joy, but they have no root in themselves, they are inconstant and therefore, when some tribulation or persecution arises because of the Word, they immediately fail. Others are those sown among the brambles: these are those who have listened to the Word, but the worries of the world and the seduction of wealth and all the other passions arrive, they suffocate the Word and it remains fruitless. Still others are those sown on good soil: they are those who listen to the Word, welcome it and bear fruit: thirty, sixty, one hundred percent."

The commentary on the Gospel by Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia

The evangelist collects various parables in this chapter. It is a typical way of how Jesus addresses the crowds. Language is not abstract but very concrete, linked to daily life. Everyone can understand it, but vigilant attention is essential, that is, an interest of the heart to be able to deeply grasp the simplicity of the images. The one that is placed at the beginning is among the most well-known and important of the Gospel. And it is no coincidence that Jesus makes this understood from the first word he pronounces: "Listen!". Yes, listening is decisive when you stand before Jesus. The entire parable that Jesus tells is all aimed at showing the decisiveness for the disciples of listening to his word. He considers it so important that he tells his disciples that if they don't understand it they can't understand the others either. Jesus speaks of the sowing of the Word of God in the hearts of men. What is striking in this narrative is first of all the generosity of the sower who throws the seed everywhere and in large quantities, even if he finds himself faced with hard and unwelcoming soil. The contrast between the generosity of the sower and the lack of hospitality of the land is evident. Failure, however, does not discourage the sower: he continues to go out and sow. The different fields, however, are not different categories of people, but are each of us in the different moments and ways in which we listen to the Gospel. Sometimes our heart is like the road, really hard and impenetrable. Other times our heart is overwhelmed by concerns for ourselves and, even if we listen to the Gospel, agitation submerges it like thorns, suffocating the seed in its birth. Other times we are more attentive and ready to welcome the Word of God. And then come the fruits of love, goodness, mercy, solidarity. And the seed is always a small thing, just like the Gospel, and needs to be welcomed with availability.