Seven-minute Homily for 15TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

 

First Reading: Is 55:10-11

Ps 65:10-11, 12-13, 14:

Second Reading: Rom 8:18-23

Gospel: Mt 13:1-23

A story has been told of a farmer who is out in his field planting seeds. Once he finishes, he makes arrangements to sell the farm and purchase some nearby land. The other people in his small town are puzzled by this, but they brush it off as some eccentric behavior. After purchasing the new land, the farmer repeats the process. He plants the seeds, and then puts the land up for sale. Now people are really confused, so one of his friends approaches him to get some answers. "I don't get it. Why do you just plant the seeds and then leave?" the friend asks. "Well, that's very simple," the farmer replies. “I’m a sower not a grower.” This is typical of human beings whose activities are perennial and short-termed. 

The first reading of today is one of the shortest readings that can be read on a Sunday, yet it's so reach and deep in theology. The prophet Isaiah is inviting the people of Israel to an abundant life, that which is everlasting. He gives an analogy of the rain and snow, comparing it to the Word of God that came from heaven to give life to humanity. He uses terminology that is familiar to people to show the practicality of the Word of God. The rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return until watering the earth and making it fruitful (Is 55:10). What is intriguing about this analogy is that the rain and snow are being presented as an empowering force not as something which overrides. They do not underestimate the potential that the earth has, but provide it with conditions that enables it to be fruitful and providential. Such, is the case with the Word of God. It is word that that fills and inspires humanity, and is the Source of all goodness, which cheers and lead us on day by day, with hope of comfort as we journey, and of a good end at last. Whoever seeks for himself or herself this Word finds a sense of meaning, fulfilment and everlasting life.

St Paul, in the second reading, narrates on how humanity had lost such a privilege that the Word of God brings, thereby, subjecting themselves to suffering and futility. Disobedience brought to humanity the incapacity to produce results and was doomed not to be successful. The whole of creation was subjected to groaning in labour pains. St Paul is enlightening on the worst-case scenario that continues to befell on humanity when they alienate themselves from the Word of God.

The Gospel of today presents to us one of the most famous parables of Jesus, the Parable of the Sower, whose central focus is human response to the Word of God. In the preceding passage, Matthew had presented Jesus explaining to his disciples whom he considers to be his true kindred. For Jesus, his true kindred are those whoever does the will of his Father (Mt 12:50), those who listen to his word. Now, in the Parable of the Sower Jesus is giving the different levels in which people respond to the invitation of the Word, which brings forth life. Just like Isaiah, Jesus teaches with examples that are familiar with people and those that represented the civilization of that time. He draws examples from the common life of people to teach principles about the kingdom of heaven. Thus, if the parable is not read in context, one might fail to get the full meaning.  During the time of Jesus seeds were scattered and then plow into the ground that is why they fail on different surfaces. Jesus has already explained the meaning of the different surfaces to which the seeds fell. What can be emphasized today are the hierarchical spiritual statuses that the soil represents, with the worst case being that of hearing and not understanding, and the best being of hearing and producing fruits. In as much as all the four kinds of soil need to be paid attention to, the world today needs to be more attentive to the third kind of soil in which the seed grows but as it grows it is pierced by thorns. Today the world has become so commercialized to the extent that focus is gradually shifting from the pursuit of God to the pursuit of happiness. Christians are become more and more seasonal and ignorant to the fact that the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word. They usurp in the human heart the place due to Christ and his saving truth. By adhering to the tune of the world, we cause for ourselves spiritual injury. Prophet Isaiah had already warned us that worldly things can never satisfy of hunger and thirst (Is 55:2). We must fix our focus and thought on the Word of God, which brings forth everlasting life. The invitation of today is to reflect on our personal attitudes towards the Word of God.

George Chidyamatondo

II Year Theology