Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament

July 12, 2026

15^th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Commemoration of the Beatification of Peter Julian Eymard in 1925 by Pope Pius XI

In today’s parable, we see God presented as a sower who is lavishly tossing seeds across a varied landscape. We need to note that a typical farmer would be cautious with the seeds he sows. Seeds are costly, so he needs to get as much bang for his buck as possible. A farmer would avoid casting seeds on the footpath, rocky soil, or among the thorn bushes. He would make sure that they fell on fertile ground. Jesus’ sower isn’t the typical farmer, however. He scatters the seeds everywhere.

We also need to note that most of the seeds take root but never mature. Those that fall on rocky soil live only a short time because they can’t take root quickly enough, and the sun scorches the seedlings. The seeds that fall among the thorn bushes can’t get a start because the thorns choke them. They don’t have much chance of taking root. They try but have only a short life. Others fall onto a footpath but have no chance to take root because the birds swoop down and eat them. But some seeds fall on fertile soil and “produce fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

The seeds represent God’s transformative power reaching out to each of us, no matter what condition our spiritual landscape is in. Jesus is asking us to team up with God. To accept every bit of life we can. Maybe, with a little determination and hard work, we can graduate from the hard footpath to the rocky soil. Maybe we need to do battle with the thorns. If we don’t give up the fight, one day our hearts may just accept what God is trying to plant in our hearts. I bet you, the harvest is a love we’ve never experienced before.

We thank God for the gift of Peter Julian Eymard to the Congregation and the entire Church as we commemorate the 101^st anniversary of his beatification by Pope Pius XI in 1925. Saint Peter Julian Eymard, pray for us!

Let Us Pray:

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God and God in them.