Scripture
Matthew 13: 18-23
Jesus said to his disciples:
“Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Ignatian Reflection
Tilling the Soil
I grew up on a Midwestern farm, so Jesus’s frequent references to agrarian culture strike a chord with me. The parable of the sower in today’s Gospel reminds me of my brother pointing at a field of stunted soybeans and saying, “That guy’s not a very good farmer.”
Reading Matthew’s account might suggest our spiritual growth is dependent on the soil where we land, a bit like the zinnia seeds I flung randomly about my yard. But alas, we must consider our own role in partnership with the Divine Sower.
We avoid the rocky terrain and clear the thorns. We struggle to endure through trouble and persecution. We prepare soil where our roots may grow deep. We avoid the lure of riches and worldly anxieties that rob our healthy growth. Are we tilling our soil daily with prayer, generosity, good works, and silence, so that it will grow rich and bear much fruit?
—Effie Caldarola has a master’s degree in pastoral studies from Seattle University. She was a longtime columnist for Catholic News Service and now writes for OSV.
Ignatian Prayer
Jul 24, 2026
Prayer
Jesus, as summer’s bounty fills our gardens and farmers’ markets, may we feel in nature’s abundance our own call to till the soil of our lives well. May we daily sow and tend our seeds with care so that our yield will be a hundredfold.
—Effie Caldarola
The Daily Examen is a prayer technique developed by St. Ignatius to help us reflect on the events of the day to discern God's presence and direction. When Ignatius founded the Society of Jesus, he required the Jesuits to practice the Examen twice daily—at noon and at the end of the day. It's a habit that Jesuits, and many other Christians, practice to this day.
The Examen structure presented below is adapted from a technique described by Ignatius Loyola in his Spiritual Exercises. Click here for more information from our partners in ministry at Loyola Press.
Daily Examen
1. Become aware of God's presence
God, I believe that at this moment I am in your presence and you are loving me.
2. Review the day with gratitude
God, you know my needs better than I know them. Give me your light and your help to see how you have been with me, both yesterday and today.
3. Pay attention to your emotions
God, help me to be grateful for the moments when people have affirmed me and challenged me. Help me to see how I have responded, and whether I have been kind to others and open to growth.
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it
God, forgive me for when I have not done my best or have failed to treat others well. Encourage me, guide me, and continue to bless me.
5. Look toward tomorrow
As I look to the remainder of this day, make me aware that you are with me. Show me how to be the person you want me to be.
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