A sower is a man of hope, a man of life. As he sows, he rejoices that one day those seeds will sprout up to yield a harvest. Even though he knows that some seeds that he sows will be lost - will not grow, he still continues to sow.

In this parable of the sower, we realize that the sower is God Himself, who sows His Word in our hearts. He too knows that the Word will be lost in those who are choked up with problems, tensions, self-centeredness, consumerism and materialism. He knows that some hearts are shut and refuse to receive the Word of God.

There are others too, who are so busy making money, so busy trying to gain prestige, power and recognition, that the Word of God gets crowded out. But, like every sower, our God is a God of hope and joy. He knows that there are also people who listen attentively to His Word, "who ponder on His Word day and night" and make God's Word fully alive in their lives and in the lives of others. And what of us?