Exodus 20:1-17 / Matthew 13:18-23
Everyday we hear a lot of words, and we react and respond to those words.
And it is not just what we hear, but also how we hear it.
In the 1st reading, we heard the words of the 10 Commandments.
Just mention the 10 Commandments, and the immediate phrase that we can think of is "Thou shall not ..."
And phrases like "thou shall not ..." seems to be prohibitive and restrictive, and our response to it will be that of indifference or to just "toe the line".
But what is NOT said can be as important as what is said. Because what we are told not to do is also implicitly complimented by what we should do.
God gave us the 10 Commandments not to restrict us but to protect us and to let us know what is good for us.
When we hear and understand God's Commandments, we will also be also the hear the voice behind those words, the voice of God that will motivate us and inspire us to live a life meaningfully and peacefully.
The voice of God behind the words of Scripture are like seeds that are sown in our hearts so that we can bear a harvest of love and good deeds for God in the service of others.