That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on a path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched, and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. If you have ears, hear!”

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. For you shall go out in joy and be led back in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands…”

It was by a revelation that his secret purpose was made known to me. I have already written to you a brief account of this, and by reading it you can see that I understand the secret purpose of Christ. In former generations that secret was not disclosed to mankind; but now by inspiration it has been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets, that through the gospel the Gentiles are joint heirs with the Jews, part of the same body, sharers together in the promise made in Christ Jesus. Such is the gospel of which I was made a minister by God's unmerited gift, so powerfully at work in me.

Queries:

Does the story of the blind men and the elephant stand out to you? Who does it move you to have compassion toward?

Have you been once certain and then changed your mind? What did this teach you about yourself? What did it teach you about God?

Has God been revealing new aspects of Themself to you? Is it what you need now? Are you seeing it out of a relationship with another person?

Queries:

What have you learned about both giving and receiving healing in your own spiritual journey?

When was a time you were able to partner with someone else to help provide healing for another?

What are some ways you’ve experienced healing through your faith community?

From what other illnesses, besides physical diseases do you see the need for healing in our world?

Queries:

How does imagining Light in an ecosystem model impact you?

What space does this metaphor open up for you regarding Earth care?