Daily Mass Readings – Saturday, 19 September 2026

35 But some man will say: How do the dead rise again? or with what manner of body shall they come?

36 Senseless man, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die first.

37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be; but bare grain, as of wheat, or of some of the rest.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it shall rise in incorruption.

43 It is sown in dishonour, it shall rise in glory. It is sown in weakness, it shall rise in power.

44 It is sown a natural body, it shall rise a spiritual body. If there be a natural body, there is also a spiritual body, as it is written:

45 The first man Adam was made into a living soul; the last Adam into a quickening spirit.

46 Yet that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; afterwards that which is spiritual.

47 The first man was of the earth, earthly: the second man, from heaven, heavenly.

48 Such as is the earthly, such also are the earthly: and such as is the heavenly, such also are they that are heavenly.

49 Therefore as we have borne the image of the earthly, let us bear also the image of the heavenly.

R. (14) I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.

10c Behold I know thou art my God.

11 In God will I praise the word, in the Lord will I praise his speech.

12 In God have I hoped, I will not fear what man can do to me.

R. I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.

13 In me, O God, are vows to thee, which I will pay, praises to thee:

14 Because thou hast delivered my soul from death, my feet from falling: that I may please in the sight of God, in the light of the living.

R. I will walk in the presence of God, in the light of the living.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

15 Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart and yield a harvest through perseverance.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

4 And when a very great multitude was gathered together, and hastened out of the cities unto him, he spoke by a similitude.

5 The sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

6 And other some fell upon a rock: and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.

7 And other some fell among thorns, and the thorns growing up with it, choked it.

8 And other some fell upon good ground; and being sprung up, yielded fruit a hundredfold. Saying these things, he cried out: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

9 And his disciples asked him what this parable might be.

10 To whom he said: To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables, that seeing they may not see, and hearing may not understand.

11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12 And they by the way side are they that hear; then the devil cometh, and taketh the word out of their heart, lest believing they should be saved.

13 Now they upon the rock, are they who when they hear, receive the word with joy: and these have no roots; for they believe for a while, and in time of temptation, they fall away.

14 And that which fell among thorns, are they who have heard, and going their way, are choked with the cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and yield no fruit.

15 But that on the good ground, are they who in a good and perfect heart, hearing the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit in patience.

The seed in Jesus’ parable is the word of God, and the mystery of resurrection gives us its deeper horizon. A seed appears small and vulnerable, and it must be buried before it can rise into something new. In the same way, God’s word may seem hidden within the ordinary ground of our lives, yet it carries the power to bring forth a harvest—and finally to raise what is sown in weakness into glory and power.

The difference lies in how the word is received. A heart hardened by distraction, temptation, or attachment cannot allow it to take root. A good and generous heart keeps the word and brings forth fruit through perseverance. That patient fidelity gradually forms in us the image of the heavenly Christ. We may not see the full harvest yet, but we can walk in God’s presence, trusting the One who delivers our soul from death. Today, the practical work is quiet and steady: listen to the word, keep it when trials come, and let it shape one faithful choice after another. The life God promises grows through such hidden faithfulness.

Lord Jesus, place your word deeply within me. Clear away whatever hardens my heart, scatters my attention, or chokes the life you have planted there. Give me a generous heart that receives your truth with humility and keeps it when joy fades or temptation comes. Teach me to persevere in small acts of faithfulness, trusting that you can bring life from what seems weak and hidden. Shape me according to your heavenly image, so that I may walk in your presence without fear and bear fruit that endures. Amen.