INTRODUCTION
All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation (of the world).” MATTHEW 13:41-42
Jesus shared the truth of the parables with his disciples who are opened to the truth. Their hearts are not ‘hardened.” Today, the Holy Spirit who moves where He wills does the same for us who are willing to hear the truth and follow it wherever it may lead. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
Jesus praises the Father, “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. … No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him…. MATTHEW 11:25-30
SCRIPTURE
MATTHEW 12:33-37 a tree and its fruits
“Either declare* the tree good and its fruit is good, or declare the tree rotten and its fruit is rotten, for a tree is known by its fruit.,,, A good person brings forth good out of a store of goodness, but an evil person brings forth evil out of a store of evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak. By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
TREE IS KNOWN BY ITS FRUITS
REFLECTION
By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” That alone is enough food for thought. I better check the filter on my mouth. One can do as much damage to another with their tongue as they can with any weapon. Careless talk can hurt another. Many a time I have had to call and apologize for something I said stupid to a friend or family member.
As a tree is known by its fruit so is a person. What kind of person am I? What fruits do I bear in my life? How do I feed and nurture my family, my friends, the world? Will I receive Jesus’ blessing? Or curse as He did to fig tree when He was hungry and looking for nourishment. The fig tree had lots of leaves and decorative appearance but no figs. Matthew 21:19
SCRIPTURE
MATTHEW 13:1-16 the sower and seed
On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. Such large crowds gathered around him….And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirty fold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.” 
THE SOWER AND THE SEED
REFLECTION
God wills everyone’s salvation. He loves all of us infinitely and wants us to be with Him forever and ever. But God has given us free will. He forces himself on no one. If we end up on judgment day in Hell it is because we willed it, not God.
In this parable I believe seed is a metaphor for “grace.” Grace is an intervention by God to enlighten the mind and strengthen the will to perform supernatural actions that lead to heaven.
The “seed” sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it. And is easily ignored. Ignorance is not bliss. We must pray and prepare to not only hear the word but really listen to it. God’s word requires a response.
The “seed” sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. Yes they are excited for a time but the attractions and distractions of the world soon take them to some other place, some other god.
The “seed” sown among thorns is God’s attempt to break through someone suffocated with addictions to greed and lust. God’s word is choked in the victim’s heart and soul so that he can bear not good fruit but only sterility and death.
But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, And acts on it is my addition. May this be so for all of us that we may bear fruit a hundred fold like concentric circles in a lake moving out from our families to the whole world. We may be a small pebble but we have a mighty God.
SCRIPTURE
MATTHEW 13:41-44 kingdom of heaven is a great treasure
“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS A TREASURE WORTH ANY PRICE
REFLECTION
What price are we willing to pay for the treasure of heaven??? Ask yourself what you are willing to give up? What are you willing to give? You know athletes and others, of course, give up a lot to achieve their goals. Is there a higher or more lasting goal than heaven? Really how hard are the commandments to keep? They are the source of happiness and wellness in this life and our path to heaven as well, a priceless possession.
We can do it. Anything is possible with God. God chose the weak to shame the strong! God did not call the equipped but equipped the called! Remember, Peter was a sinful man who denied Jesus three times but repented and returned to Jesus to become Prime Minister of His Church! All it takes on our part is the willingness to say yes, thy will be done, not mine!
SCRIPTURE
MATTHEW 13:24-42 the evil one sows seeds of evil
“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. The slaves of the householder said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’
He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds, tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”
“He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil.
The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. 
THE ENEMY SOWS WEEDS
REFLECTION
Kind of scary scripture here, are we weeds or wheat? Choose now because at death the choice is made. There are no do overs. At our personal judgment upon death our fate will be evaluated by Jesus, the just Judge.
What do you think of the Master’s advice to his slaves to let weeds and wheat grow together until harvest time? That’s a tough one for most people.
Many people, including myself, at times asks why God hasn’t taken vengeance on this evil world. Well, I suggest it is because He is God and we are not! God loves the good, the bad, and the ugly without exception. God gives up on no one!