Parable of the sower

Memory due on Friday is..... "This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 Parable of the sower: Read the parable below. It comes from Matthew 13: 1-23 That same day Jesus went out of the houseand sat by the lake.2Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boatand sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.3Then he told them many things in parables, saying:“A farmer went out to sow his seed.4As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.5Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.6But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred,sixty or thirty times what was sown.9Whoever has ears, let them hear.”10The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”11He replied,“Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heavenhas been given to you,but not to them.12Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.13This is why I speak to them in parables:“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.14In them is fulfilledthe prophecy of Isaiah:“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.15For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes.Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heartsand turn, and I would heal them.’[a]16But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.17For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you seebut did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” What is the meaning of the parable of the sower and the seeds? Answer each question in a complete sentence. :) How can we be rich soil for the Word of God to be planted in? Are you willing to let the Word grow in you? How will you do that? How could you explain that story today?