Isaiah 55.10-11・Psalm 65.10, 11+12, 13;14・Romans 8.18-23・Matthew 13.1-23
The readings for today center on spreading the Word of God. We ourselves who are at the same time called to spread the Word of God are being led towards re-visiting our approach in accepting the Word of God in our daily lives. It is important to reflect on this theme because our sound response to the calling of spreading the Word of God to others depends on how we deepen our understanding of His Word. We may also reflect on how our relationship with God helps us more to respond to this calling.
The parable of the Sower so well explained to us in our gospel reading reminds us to honestly stop in silence for a while so that we can honestly examine ourselves on how we have been following Christian living up to this day. As a point for further reflection, we may also consider how our daily experiences in the society, in our respective homes, in school or in workplace, and in various human relations as well, affect our daily understanding of God`s Word. As human as we are, daily events around us affect our emotions, and perhaps to certain extend eventually affect our motivations and point of view as well, today may be okay but tomorrow may be not. In the context of our faith, we understand however that God can use these events in our lives to bring us back to right mode so that we can be better soil to grow seeds into bigger fruit-bearing trees, or beautiful flowering plants so to say.
Sometimes we find ourselves like a hard soil (totally cemented ground) where seed growth is impossible.
Sometimes we may find ourselves like a rocky ground where the roots growth lasts only a short time.
Sometimes we may find ourselves like a soil with plenty of thorns around. Even if the seeds become full grown plants and trees, they never reach their full potential as flowering plants and fruit-bearing trees.
However, the grace of God is bigger and more powerful than anything that hinders the growth of seeds planted into our hearts. Even just for today`s liturgy, let`s make use some words of encouragements from the Book of Psalm. In fact, the land`s fruitful harvest is the product of God`s intervention. My dear brothers and sisters, in everything we say and do, let us acknowledge God`s intervention in joy and celebration. The Word of God planted into human hearts will never turn into waste, will always meet its purpose,…in God`s perfect time.