The readings for today focus on the word of God.

Day 1: In the first reading, God describes his word. The first verse speaks of it as rain or snow.

• What qualities of rain and snow are similar to the word of God?

• According to the first reading, rain and snow water the earth. What is the result of this?

• What can you do to make the word of God nourish you?

Day 2: The second verse of the first reading speaks directly about the word of God.

• God said that his word will not return to him empty. What does this mean?

• God said that his word does what he has purposed and succeeds in what it was sent to do. What did he mean by that?

• Do you find this true in your life? Why or why not?

• What can you do to make the word of God a major part of your life?

Day 3: The psalm speaks about what God does by bringing rain to the earth.

• According to the psalmist, what does the water do to the earth?

• Comparing this to the word of God and the earth as your soul, what does the word of God do to you?

• Based on this, how important do you think is the word of God in a person's life?

• What steps are you going to take to ensure that the word of God is part of your life?

Day 4: In the second reading, St. Paul speaks of the value of suffering.

• St. Paul speaks of the glory about to be reveal to us. What is this glory?

• If sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory in store for us, where should our focus be – our sufferings or the glory that is before us? Why?

• How can you focus on the glory that awaits you in the midst of suffering?

Day 5: St. Paul continues to speak of a bondage and redemption.

• St. Paul speaks of creation bing set free from bondage. This means that right now, creation is in bondage to decay. What did he mean by “bondage of decay”?

• The first fruits is the first harvest – it is considered as the best harvest. When St. Paul says that we have the first fruits of the Spirit, what did he mean by that? Do you believe that you have the best of the Spirit in you?

• St. Paul speaks of adoption as the redemption of the body. This is not the adoption as children of God since we were made so at baptism. This is a different adoption. What did he mean by that? Do you believe that this is God's plan for you?

Day 6: In the gospel reading, Jesus gives a parable of the sower. The first part of the gospel reading is the parable itself. The second part is his explanation of the parable.

• The seed that was sown fell on four kinds of soil. What are these four kinds of soil?

• What happened to the seed in each of these soil?

• What should be done to the seed in each type of soil to ensure that they grow?

• Jesus said that he has revealed the secrets of the kingdom of heaven to his disciples only. Does this not seem harsh? What did he really mean by that?

• How can you understand the secrets of the kingdom?

Day 7: Jesus continues to discuss with his disciples the meaning of the parable.

• When Jesus said, “For those who have, more will be given, and they will have in abundance”. What did he mean by this?

• Jesus also said that “to those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away”. What did he mean by this?

• In hi s explanation of the parable, Jesus mentioned three reasons why the word of God did not grow. What are these?

• Looking at the three reasons, how can you ensure that this does not happen to you?