Redemptorists, Limerick

Good morning, have a blessed Monday and a great week. 🙏

A reflection on the Gospel for Sunday 12th July 2026. The Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Matthew 13: 1-23.

There are many artistic interpretations of "The Sower". If any of you have had the joy of visiting the Musee D’Orsay, in Paris you may have seen Jean Francois Millet's take on this famous image. The fame of the art work increased ten-fold with its interpretation by Vincent Van Gogh in the latter part of the 19th century. You might take the time to Google the two separate pieces and compare them. You will notice that Van Gogh's depiction has more colours but there are many similarities also.

Both artists demonstrate the generosity of the Sower. His satchel full of seed resting on his left shoulder and you can tell by the extension of the Sower’s right arm, that the seed is being spread generously across the tilled earth. The Sower walks with confident strides and is totally concentrated on the task in hand, spreading the seed. Since most of Millet’s paintings depict peasants at work, we can presume that the Sower in this painting worked for a local landlord.

One can surmise that there was very little reward for his tong hours of hard work. The injustices against peasants are a feature of many 19th century French artists. However, despite this, the Sower continues to sow. He has an indomitable spirit that makes him good at his job and seeks little or no reward in return for his hours of labour.

Most of us have a great understanding as to the difficulties Jesus faced as the Sower of God's Word in the world. A lot of what he said fell on deaf ears and those who did listen, never really allowed the Word to take effect or change their lives. But Jesus never gave up in his task of preaching and showing God's love to the world. He is the ultimate Sower, the kind of person who continues to follow a path and seeks nothing in return.

We listen to the seed of God's Word each time we participate in the Eucharist and when we read the Bible. May this Word take root in us and effect our minds and hearts. May it not fall on deaf ears, for in sowing God's Word, Jesus opens us up to the possibility of encountering God.

Good morning, have a blessed Sunday. 🙏