A Cycle – 15^th Sunday in Ordinary Time 23

Mt. 13:1-23

When we hear the parable of the Sower it is so familiar, we hear it, but it no longer penetrates our hearts. Jesus never intended His words and actions to have no impact on us. In fact, in the Old Testament reading from Isaiah we clearly hear God telling us, “…my word will not return to me void but shall do my will achieving the end to which I sent it.”  That statement should shake us out of our lethargy and compel us to discover for ourselves how we personally should respond to the Word of God. 

We should know God is speaking to us in every passage. We also should know in every passage there is a message for the universal church.  Something God desires us as a body to respond to.  We also should know there is an individual message for us personally and we are to acknowledge, reflect on it and respond to it.  God never intended any passage of scripture to become so familiar it is ignored by us. 

If Sunday is your only time you are exposed to the scriptures, then you should take a moment before it is read to ask God to have His word penetrate your mind and your heart.  In fact, we silently say that prayer every Sunday even if you did not recognize it as a prayer.  Prior to the reading there is a proclamation declaring what we hear is the inspired word of God.  Our response is to give “Thanks to God” and we sign ourselves with the sign of the cross on our forehead, lips, and heart. 

That same prayer should begin your daily reading of scripture.  You should also pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to give you understanding so you can respond to what you hear.  But as we gather today, we are the body of Christ, corporately listening to what is speaking to “the Church.”  If we had a bible discussion about this parable, we would find it an easy message to discuss.  The meaning of the parable was clearly articulated by Jesus.  We could have a lengthy discussion of what kind of soil the seed falls upon and how we view ourselves as soil.  We may even discuss how much seed does not produce any fruit because of its inability to grow where it is not fed and nourished.

Perhaps, we would even be convinced to do something more and we may decide to some way to grow spiritually.  But perhaps, we are the people Jesus said sees but does not see, hears but does not hear.  We may believe we are good soil because we are faithful in the practice of our faith.  We fail to realize; even good soil needs to be prepared to receive the seed.  Just pay attention to the effort a farmer goes through prior to planting each spring. Then there is significant effort needed after planting to nurture and protect the tender growth as it changes from seed to plant. Think of your own gardening efforts to prepare the soil, carefully plant the seeds and how much care goes into tending the plants as they take root and begin to grow. 

Jesus often speaks harsh words to us, reminding us how we indeed look but we do not see. We hear but never understand.  Jesus is reminding us we need to always be listening and responding with our hearts.  It is not enough to just show up and obediently follow the laws and dictates of our faith. God desires our hearts.   Remember Jesus said, where our hearts are there will be our treasure.  If our hearts never engage and connect with the Word of God during the mass, we will never hear beyond the words, and they will wither and die moments after we leave the church. 

If we allow the word of God to penetrate our heart, that word will achieve the end to which God sent it and it will grow and produce fruit.  Producing fruit means more than using our gifts for the good of the community.  There is a message beyond the seed and the soil it falls upon.  There is a Sower in the parable who throws seed everywhere.  He has not prepared the soil. Nor is He carefully plants the seed in the soil in neatly prepared rows.  No, he throws it out, willing to throw it out in every place and in every environment.  He knows much of it will not take root and will not bear fruit. 

If you think about it, that is exactly what Jesus was doing during His three years of ministry.  He did not go to the righteous; nor to those whose faithfulness to the law and rituals defined their holiness.  Jesus went to sinners, gentiles, the broken who were declared unclean, and unworthy by the Pharisees.  His words were heard by multitudes, thousands and yet how many were there with Him on Calvary.  How many people welcomed Him with shouts of Hosannas when He entered Jerusalem and a day later shouted, “crucify Him.” 

Why was there only one hundred and twenty gathered on Pentecost?  Perhaps the answer to all those questions is because we want predictability in practicing our faith and in our worship.  Perhaps it is because Jesus challenges our concept of God.  Perhaps it is because we do not trust God’s promises to give us “fullness of life.”  Perhaps it is because life is hard, painful, and often disappointing and we want a benevolent God.  We do not understand benevolence was given to us by the gift of Jesus Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit.  

The message of Jesus was simple. He came to show us the Father and to remove the barrier of sin between us and God.  His words are food and drink for our souls and guide us in life.  We are called to be both Sower, seed, and soil.  We need to receive and allow the presence of the Spirit to transform us from glory to glory into the very image of Christ (2 Cor. 3:18).  Once we grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ, we must become Sowers bringing Christ to others.