July 24, 2026, Friday of the 16th week in Ordinary Time-A.
Jeremiah 3:14-17
Psalm Jeremiah 31:10-13
Matthew 13:18-23
“the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it… Matthew 13:23
Lord, the human heart was made by you to be a place for your word to sprout and grow and mature. It is a place of rich soil for your word to bear the fruit for which you sent it. But the human heart can become hard or so full of other stuff your word is rejected or has no chance to grow. There are so many enemies and poisons today that resist what you want to teach us. I can be so full of myself and pridefully ignore what you want me to be. Lord, I am sorry for any way I have obstructed what you’ve intended for me. Help me today to welcome your word into my heart. Then let it transform me into being the fruit-bearer you desire. Open my heart to be gentler, unselfish, humble and ready at all times to be fertile ground for your word. Lord, fertilize my heart with your grace so it will be completely rich soil. Amen.