HOMILY FOR FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A. 12.07.2020.

Readings: Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm 64:10-14; Romans 8:18-23 and Matthew 13:1-23. 

CHRISTIANS WHO QUARANTINE THE WORD OF GOD 

 

Early this year we celebrated ‘the year of the Bible’, with special enthronement of the word of God in our liturgy. It is a year we are encouraged to deepen our knowledge on God’s word. In today’s liturgy, we celebrate Christ who sows the seed of God’s word in our hearts. In light of Isaiah’s prophecy, and Christ’s parable of the sower, the Church enjoins us to evaluate our relationship with the Word of God. Do we quarantine or isolate the word of God or bear testimony to it by our actions?

 

In the first reading Isaiah compares the Word of God to the rain and snow that falls on the ground: “As the rain and the snow comes down from heaven, and do not return without watering the earth… so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth.” Using the figure of the water cycle, the LORD illustrates the essential principle that His word shall not return to Him void, but it shall accomplish what it please, to fulfill His purpose on earth. This means that God is not just “all talk” or what some persons will say “only to talk he knows.” His Word is not empty, or lacking in power, speak in unfathomable mysteries just to blow our minds, or confuse us, or leave things up to any possible interpretation. When God speaks, He speaks to accomplish a purpose.

 

In a similar vein, Christ in the gospel speaks of the word of God in the parable of the sower and the seed. In this parable, Christ spoke according to the agricultural customs of His day. We notice the same seed that was cast by the same sower in different soil. The major problem in this parable is the soil and not the sower nor the seed. Therefore, we cannot blame the differences in results on the sower or on the seed. In other words, if the problem is not with the seed, then it lies with the receiver. Put differently, our attitude towards the word of God. Dear friends in Christ, this parable speaks personally to each of us today. If we sincerely examine ourselves in the light of today’s gospel, we will convincingly find our place within it. The parable of the sower compels us to ask, “What kind of soil am I? How can I prepare my heart and mind to be the right kind of soil?” This parable invites action so that we would receive the Word of God to full benefit.

 

As the sower waits patiently for the fruits of the seed, St. Paul in the second reading said, “The creation waits for eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God...” What is to be revealed, are the fruits of the Holy Spirit through the word of God we received in Christ. This means that as adopted children of God who bear his Word, there is a great expectation from us. This way, we are reminded to reevaluate our relationship with the word of God. Unfortunately, for some of us, God’s word has lost its meaning and significance. It has become an old-fashioned story repeated for ages. Some has the mentality to just read or hear what I have to say and continue with their usual way of life. However, we are called to value the Word of God we receive, either through homilies or through scriptural reading. Each time we hear the word of God, it is meant to be lived, not meant for us to receive and quarantined it or place it in one isolation center in the bookshelf.

 

I will share a famous story of a priest and a family to conclude this homily. “This priest visited a family, asked about their wellbeing and spiritual life. The wife was quick to respond that they are fine and have been prayerful, reading their Bible on daily bases… when the priest left, she discovered the one thousand naira note (#1,000) on her table was missing… The story spread among the families and neighbor that the priest stole their money. After months the priest visited same family, asked about their spiritual life, same story was told and while they were discussing, jokingly she brought up the event of his previous visit, that when the priest left, her money got missing. So the priest demanded for their bible, behold the money was inside. He told her, he removed the money from the table and placed in the Bible, hoping that in 24 hours, they will find it as they claims to read their Bible daily, but behold, for months this family has not opened their Bible.” There are lot of lessons we can draw from this story. We are charged today to bring down the Bible from the bookshelf it has been and cobweb it from its dust, remove it from that isolation center, put an end to that quarantine spirit of the word of God and make God’s word alive and active in our lives. May this Word continue to fall on fertile soil and bear fruits in our lives through Christ our Lord. Amen! Peace be with you!

 

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Ken Dogbo, OSJ