Cycle A - Year II:  

12 July 2020: Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

(Liturgical Color: Green)

Readings:

First Reading:        Isaiah 55:10-11

Second Reading:   Romans 8:18-23

Gospel:  Please Read  Matthew 13:1-23

"Faith that grows a bountiful harvest!"

A farmer knows, and we also know, that we can reap only what we sow, literally.  But even so, sometimes there is no guarantee that we will reap from what we sow.  Because something may go wrong along the way, from the time of planting to the expected harvest time.

The Gospel this Sunday is about the Parable of the sower and the seed, which has something to do with farming and may provide helpful tips on our every day life as practicing Christians.

Now we know that our Lord Jesus Christ is a great teacher and many came to Him to listen and learn.  He used simple teaching methods, based on ordinary every day life to point to another order of reality.  Among these is the use of parables, which are short stories and image taken from everyday life of His time to convey hidden truths about the kingdom of God.  Because a good image and vivid illustration can speak more loudly and clearly than many words, and thus capture the imaginations of His audience more powerfully.

What is the importance of the Parable of the sower and the seed on the followers of our Lord Jesus Christ?  Well, Jesus uses the experience of a Galilean farmer to teach about the kingdom of heaven.

The evangelist Matthew presents in the Gospel reading two ways of understanding this parable.  The first one is in the parable itself.  It speaks of the different threats to the seed, which in this case represents the Word of God.  For examples, the stony ground, the excessive heat of the sun, the weeds choking the seed's growth, even wild birds eating some of the seed sown.  But then, despite all the threats to His word taking root, God guarantees a bumper harvest in the end.  Thus this parable is meant as encouragement for the Church and each of us who sometimes feel overwhelmed and depressed by so many threats to the growth of the seed of the Gospel.  We are told to place our trust in God who is Lord of the harvest.

The second part of the Gospel gives an explanation of the parable.  And it shifts away from God's part of guaranteeing a bumper harvest to us listeners, and the different ways in which we may receive the Word of God.  This part of the parable becomes a warning to us.  For while God encourages us to plant the seed in good soil and guarantees a bountiful harvest, it is up to us to respond responsibly with full freedom to God's invitation.

In sum, it is not enough to be enthusiastic Christians when nothing much is demanded of us.  But then our commitment can be so shallow not to withstand the threat of temptations.  It is when the going gets rough in following Jesus that such shallow commitment will shrivel and then die.

So then, our Lord Jesus Christ urges us to examine our approach to God's invitation. And we should draw encouragement from God's power and desire to overcome all obstacles to a successful harvest.  Because if we let Him, God can make our barren lives fertile.

Let us confidently seek the kingdom of God and allow nothing to undermine our growth as followers of our Lord Jesus Christ.

A blessed Sunday to us all.  And thank you for a moment with God.

Ad Jesum per Mariam!