Listening like the good soil?

Lord My Chef Daily Recipe for the Soul by Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Wednesday, Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, Priest & Doctor of the Church, 28 January 2026
2 Samuel 7:4-7     <*[[[[><  +++  ><]]]]*>     Mark 4:1-20

"May tainga ang lupa,
may pakpak ang balita."

A Filipino saying
to express how news
and rumors travel so fast 
because "The soil (or land) 
has ears, news has wings."

It sounds funny, Lord Jesus
that this saying came to my mind
upon hearing your parable that
started with your words "Hear this!
A sower went out..." 
and ended, "Whoever has ears
to hear ought to hear" 
(Mark 4:3, 9).

What an art you
have endowed each of us
Lord with two ears 
so that we may listen and
hear twice than speak;
how lovely you have shaped
our ears that when put 
together, they look like a heart
and yet, we rarely listen at all
to you and with others.

Make us like the good soil,
Jesus: open to receive your words,
open to welcome your many
possibilities, open to simply
be ourselves so that you may
transform us like the seeds
that grew and produced fruits.

Remind us, Lord Jesus,
like David by Nathan that
far more better than buildings
on land is our hearts where you
desire most to dwell;
may our hearts remain
your temple planted on 
good, firm soil that it may
be felt alive always.

Teach us to imitate
your great Saint Thomas Aquinas
we remember today: that we
may cultivate to prepare
our hearts and minds
to become like the good soil
so that your seeds of the Gospel
may grow and bear fruit
for your greater glory.
Amen.