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In his teaching he said, “Listen! The sower went out to sow. As he sowed some of the seed fell along a path and the birds came and ate it up. Some of the seed fell on rocky ground where it had little soil; it sprang up immediately because it had no roots. Other seed fell among thorn bushes and the thorns grew and choked it, so it didn’t produce any grain. But some seed fell on good soil, grew and increased and yielded grain; some produced thirty times as much, others sixty and others a hundred times as much.” And Jesus added, “Listen then, if you have ears.” When the crowd went away, some who were around him with the Twelve asked about the parables. He answered them, “The mystery of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But for those outside, everything comes in parables, so that the more they see, they don’t perceive; the more they hear, they don’t understand; otherwise they would be converted and pardoned.”
“...What the sower is sowing is the word. Those along the path where the seed fell are people who hear the word, but as soon as they do, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them.
Other people receive the word like rocky ground. As soon as they hear the word, they accept it with joy, but they have no roots so it lasts only a little while. No sooner does trouble or persecution come because of the word, than they fall. Others receive the seed as among thorns. After they hear the word, they are caught up in the worries of this life, false hopes of riches and other desires. All these come in and choke the word so that finally it produces nothing.
“And there are others who receive the word as good soil. They have the word, take it to heart and produce: some thirty, some sixty and some one hundred times as much.”
Mark 4: 1-20
I could not attend the day’s program at the World Trade Center. Today is the blessing and ribbon cutting for the new Forensic Laboratory of the Chief Public Attorney’s Office. Bishop Efraim Tendero concelebrated with me at the blessing. After we read our respective verses from the Bible, then said our prayers, I sprinkled holy water on those present and on the front door of the Forensic Laboratory. This was followed by the ribbon cutting by Chief Public Attorney Persida Acosta and Secretary of Justice Agnes Devanadera. I entered and blessed the lab and all the new facilities and equipment for forensic work. After the blessing I blessed the coins for the traditional “paagaw,” which had to be done outside lest something untoward befalls any of the expensive equipment.
I sat with the DOJ Secretary Devanadera and had a rather unusual experience. What a pleasant surprise to sit with someone who could have emphasized or asserted her authority or stature. Instead, she spoke not as a Secretary of Justice but simply as Agnes. Her predecessor was quite a different person. He had nasty words for me and the church. He was the Secretary of Justice when I was slapped with a “rebellion” case in 2008 and sent to jail for sixteen days. I shared this with her which made her smile and say, “Ganoon lang talaga si Manong Raul.” (The Old Raul is just like that.)
After the blessing I proceeded to the Islamic Institute at UP Diliman to meet with Tani Basman to discuss plans for the development of the Movement for Muslim Christian Dialogue. We met towards 5:00 p.m. Tani reminds me of his late father Taha, who was every inch a Muslim Gentleman committed to peace and dialogue. Tani has agreed to continue his father’s important legacy. Listening to Tani inspires me and others who see in the young man dedication, commitment and genuine passion for peace and understanding between Muslims and Christians.
Speaking to Secretary Devanadera and to Tani makes me ponder on today’s gospel which speaks of the Sower and the Seed He sows. Somewhere, somehow today I felt the seed watered by my encounter with good people. Agnes and Tani were both seed and water. I felt the gospel message speak through them.
God is alive through persons. Both the sowing and watering take place in and through the persons we meet. Before I slept today, as I gathered my thoughts and sentiments, examined my actions and their intentions, I clearly saw Jesus the sower vividly and vibrantly present in the people I met, particularly in Agnes and Tani. I thought of my brother priests at the World Trade Center. I remembered the many priests and bishops I met and felt a gentle, joyful warmth spread within. As I slid under my blanket, I prayed:
You, Lord, have been sowing the seed of faith and vocation in me, my brother priests and Your beloved laity. Give us the grace to acknowledge you as Sower and appreciate the Seed You sow in our lives through the myriad encounters we have with persons and situations. Increase our faith and our sensitivity to your never-ceasing, untiring, and transforming presence and action in our lives. Amen.
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