Second Reading: Rom 8:18-23
On this Fifteenth Sunday in
ordinary time, the readings of the day invite us to experience the power of the
Word of God and know its importance. In the first reading, the Lord explicates the
creative nature of His Word by comparing it with rain and snow fall. As the
rain and snow fall do not return to their place until they have given life to
the vegetation on the soil, so do the Word of God. Human words are descriptive.
We use words to communicate one’s thought and actions. On the other hand, God’s
Word is creative. They don’t explicate, rather give rise to (effect) what it
is/contains. Our words proceed from what we think, see and do. Whereas God’s Word
effect His thinking, seeing and doing. In other words, God’s Word is undistinguishable
from His thinking, seeing and doing. God’s utterance and thinking are
identical, they take place at the same time. In the first chapter of the book
of Genesis we read that God’s Word effects creation. In the New Testament, God’s
Word takes human form concretely in Jesus. Thus, the Word of God is ever alive
and life giving. The message of the first reading is that as the soil absorbs the rain and snow fall to give rise to the
vegetation, so shall we need to absorb the Word of God into us to achieve its
purpose. The soil that does not consume the water cannot give life to any
vegetation. This we see in water reservoirs and dams; when the water is released
from the dam the surface looks barren. If we do not drink the Word of God – the
life giving water – we will also be like the surface of the water reservoirs.
In the Gospel, Jesus narrates
the parable of the sower to the common flock and gives its explanation only to
His disciples. The seeds from the hand of the sower fall on four types of soil.
The birds that eat away the seed from the pathway are devils who come and take
away the Word from the people immediately after their hearing it. The work of
the devil is like birds who come and go. They go all around and eat whatever is
possible. The design of the devil is to trap the man as soon as possible. We need
to be more vigilant to allow the Word of God to enter deeply into us. The rocky
ground are people with the heart of stone who do not practice the virtue of
patience. They seek immediate effect of the Word. Their impatience and unwillingness
to carry the yoke that is attached to the Word makes them stumble. Thorns are
worldly pleasures which distract the faithful from concentrating on the Word. As
the thorns choke the growth of the plants, the worldly ideologies and philosophies
subjugate human reasoning from comprehending the mysteries of God with its
proper disposition. Good soil is not the perfect soil, rather it is a faithful
soil. The perfect soil yields fruit to its fullest without any reduction. On the
other hand, the faithful soil yields fruit besides many hardships that it has
endured. In general, we are called to be perfect soil as our heavenly Father is
perfect (Mt 5:48) to bear fruit in hundredfold. But in reality many fail from
being perfect. Perfection is possible but not for all. St. Mother Teresa said, “We
are not called to be successful, but to be faithful”. A faithful soul is the
one which keeps the Word of God alive and active in his/her life despite many limitations
and shortcomings. Faithful soul is neither discouraged by sin, nor overwhelmed
with guilt. As Christians we strive to be perfect like our heavenly Father in
being faithful to His Word. We are called to yield fruit in hundredfold but
that doesn’t mean that if we fail little we can give up entirely. All that our
God wants from us is to yield some faithful fruits. It does not matter to our
God if fruits that we bear have some defects or stain over them. Kindly yield some
fruits. It is never too late to start yielding fruits. If you are a grave sinner,
do not get discouraged, you can still yield some fruits either in sixty or in thirty.
If you have missed only a little to reach perfection do not be depressed, you
are still saved for your faithfulness. May the Word of God find home in our
hearts (Col 3:16-17) to yield much fruits, fruits that will last (Jn 15:16).
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