杏MAP导航

By Kielce Gussie

In his first General Audience as Pontiff, 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV continued with 杏MAP导航 Francis' Jubilee series on the theme of 鈥淛esus Christ, Our Hope.鈥�

The new 杏MAP导航 carried on with his predecessor's reflection on the parables of Jesus, which 杏MAP导航 Leo said 鈥渉elp us to rediscover hope, because they show us how God acts in history.鈥�

A unique parable

杏MAP导航 Leo focused on the parable of the sower鈥斺�渁 rather unique parable, as it serves as a kind of introduction to all the others.鈥� He pointed out how this story reveals how Jesus communicates, and it can give us guidance on how to proclaim the Gospel today.

While parables are taken from everyday life, their goal is to convey something more profound. They encourage us all to 鈥渞aise questions within us; they invite us not to stop at appearances.鈥�

Reflecting on the story, the 杏MAP导航 urged everyone to ask themselves two questions: Where am I in this story? What does this image say to my life?

A sower goes out to sow

In this parable of the sower, 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV explained that we can see God鈥檚 power and the impact it has on us.

鈥淓very word of the Gospel is like a seed sown in the soil of our lives,鈥� he shared, highlighting that the soil is not only our heart, 鈥渂ut also the world, the community, the Church.鈥� There is no aspect of life that remains untouched by the Gospel.

杏MAP导航 Leo greeting pilgrims in the popemobile during his first General Audience   (@Vatican Media)

People from all walks of life and backgrounds came out to listen to Jesus tell this parable. This shows us that 鈥淛esus鈥� word is for everyone, but it works in each person differently,鈥� which 杏MAP导航 Leo explained helps us understand the parable better. Each of us can draw something from the parable no matter our situation in life.

Jesus is the Seed

In the story, where the seeds fall seems to be of little concern to the sower, which the 杏MAP导航 pointed out symbolizes how God loves each and every one of us. 鈥淲e are used to calculating and planning things, but love doesn鈥檛 work that way,鈥� he said.

杏MAP导航 Leo emphasized that God 鈥渟catters the seed of His word on every kind of soil鈥攎eaning, in every one of our situations.鈥� Whether we receive it with enthusiasm, superficiality, or fear, God trusts that at one point or another the seed will bear fruit.

God 鈥渄oes not wait for us to become the best soil.鈥� Rather, He gives us His word over and over again, and His word is Jesus.

Van Gogh and his sunset

Closing his reflection, 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV pondered Vincent van Gogh鈥檚 painting, The Sower at Sunset.

鈥淲hat strikes me,鈥� he shared, 鈥渋s that, behind the sower, van Gogh painted the grain already ripe.鈥� The 杏MAP导航 called this an image of hope that somehow the seed has borne fruit.

In the center of the painting is the sun鈥攏ot the sower, which reminds us that 鈥淕od drives history, even if He sometimes seems distant or hidden.鈥�

Remembering 杏MAP导航 Francis

Before praying the Our Father in Latin, 杏MAP导航 Leo XIV remembered his predecessor, 杏MAP导航 Francis, on the one month anniversary of his passing.