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Wednesday, January 24, 2007

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St. Francis de Sales


Hebrews 10:11-18
Psalm 110
Mark 4:1-20

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farming in the spirit

"What the sower is sowing is the word." —Mark 4:14

Jesus taught us there are four possible results from His word. Some who read the Scriptures are not affected at all. "Satan comes to carry off what was sown in them" (Mk 4:15). Often we can prevent this from happening by prayer and fasting.

Others who read the Bible accept the word "joyfully at the outset" (Mk 4:16). However, "when some pressure or persecution overtakes them because of the word, they falter" (Mk 4:17). We at Presentation Ministries want to help our readers become rooted in the word by teaching further on these Bible readings through audio tapes, Our Daily Bread radio program, telephone Bible teachings, and One Bread, One Body.

"Those sown among thorns are another class. They have listened to the word, but anxieties over life's demands, and the desire for wealth, and cravings of other sorts come to choke it off; it bears no yield" (Mk 4:18-19). We try to deal with this problem through our "co-workers" program, Bible Teachers' training, Discipleship Program, and Bible Institute.

Finally, "those sown on good soil are the ones who listen to the word, take it to heart, and yield at thirty- and sixty- and a hundredfold" (Mk 4:20).

Prayer:  Father, may Your word find a home in us (see Jas 1:21).

Promise:  Jesus "waits until His enemies are placed beneath His feet." —Heb 10:13

Praise:  St. Francis de Sales wrote that true devotion to Christ "not only does not injure any sort of calling or occupation, it even embellishes and enhances it."

Reference:  (Help Jesus sow the word by becoming a Bible teacher. For encouragement, order our tapes on the Bible Teachers Series. Our six-tape audio series starts with AV 117-1. Our three-part video series starts with V-117.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, June 13, 2006

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