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Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
The Parable of the
Sower, which is read today is one of the best known of the Gospel texts. But
this parable may perhaps be better known in its negative aspects – the instances of the seed that does not grow –
than in its positive aspects. Generally speaking, we know that the seed
grows if it falls on “good ground,” but we may not see precisely and concretely enough the conditions set out
in the Gospel for its germination.
The Epistle which is read today is of an especially personal and autobiographical nature.
Saint Paul knows that he is talked about and perhaps opposed by certain members of the church at Corinth, and sets
out to lift the veil which covers his deepest inner life.
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The readings below are Sunday, October 19, 2025
Today's Epistle reading: [2 Corinthians
11.31-12.9]
The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed for ever, knows that I do not lie. At Damascus, the governor
under King Ar'etas guarded the city of Damascus in order to seize me, but I was let down in a basket through a window in the
wall, and escaped his hands. I must boast; there is nothing to be gained by it, but I will go on to visions and revelations
of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven--whether in the body or out of
the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into Paradise — whether in the body or out
of the body I do not know, God knows — and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of
this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. Though if I wish to boast, I shall
not be a fool, for I shall be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees
in me or hears from me. And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the
flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that
it should leave me; but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."
I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
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Today's Gospel reading: [Luke 8.5-15]
"A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the
path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered
away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns grew with it and choked it. And some fell into
good soil and grew, and yielded a hundredfold." As he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him
hear.”
And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, "To you
it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that seeing they may
not see, and hearing they may not understand. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path
are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, that they may not believe and be
saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but these have no root, they
believe for a while and in time of temptation fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but
as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. And
as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth
fruit with patience.
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