Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10 / Matthew 13:1-9
Being a male is a matter of birth; being a man is a matter of age; but being a gentleman is a matter of choice.
Of course, similarly, being a female is a matter of birth; being a woman is a matter of age; and being a lady is matter of choice.
Having said that, the prophet Jeremiah whom we heard about in the 1st reading did not choose to be a prophet.
Rather it was God who chose him to be a prophet and it was even before he was formed in his mother's womb.
God's choice goes to show that He has a plan and that things happen for a reason because of that plan.
But it seems that the sower in the gospel parable had no plan. He seemed to be scattering the seeds everywhere - on the edge of the path, on patches of rock, among thorns and finally on rich soil.
That's futile sowing and it's also not productive. So actually the parable does not quite make sense.
Yet God's ways are not our ways; His thoughts are high above our thoughts; we don't understand His plan and what He wants us to do does not make sense.
But someday everything will make perfect sense. So for now, let's laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears and keep telling ourselves that everything happens for a reason. Simply because God has a plan for us.