15th Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr Justin Adiele
THEME: JUSTIFYING THE SEED OF GOD SOWN IN YOU
INTRODUCTION
Today, the gospel reading tells us about the seed of God sown in us which is expected to bear desired fruits, or bring about reactionary and transforming effects in our lives to portray us as children of the kingdom or children of light. The more we remain indifferent to the seed of God sown within us; that is, the word of God we hear every day, the more the devil takes us away from God and from the kingdom.
THE FIRST READING (IS. 55: 10–11)
In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah reminds us that the word of God should never remain futile in our hearts or in our ears, without watering us to grow in virtues. The word of God is meant to accomplish something in our lives. It is meant to make us sprout new life, new leaves, new/noble characters that would bring about satisfaction to the society, to the church, to humanity at large, and to God himself. What then have we accomplished for God whose showers or spring of words we receive and immerse ourselves every day?
THE SECOND READING (ROM. 8: 18–23)
In the second reading, St. Paul decried that the whole creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God, who are watered by the word of God; who carry the viable seed of God; who are no longer subjected to the bondage of futility and decay of this world. Today, the world is still waiting to see the revelation/manifestation of the redeemed children of God who now bear the mark of God’s righteousness/perfection and the mark of God’s glory. Till this day, creation still waits to see the dividends of the children of God in the society, in our politics, in the government, in our electoral process, in the judiciary and so on.
THE GOSPEL READING (MT. 13: 1–23)
In the gospel reading, Jesus narrated the parable of the sower in which he identified the seed as the word of God sown in our hearts; how we receive and react to the word; and the end result of the seed of the word of God in our lives. How we receive and react to the word of God is the main bone of contention here. To properly receive the word and bear the desired fruits, Jesus taught us that we must strive: first, to secure the word; second, to deepen the word; third, to treasure the word; and fourth, to understand the word. The first category of persons who cannot secure the word, are those who let the word of God fall away on their pathways, or on their way home; those who do not take the word home nor to their work place. Those who forget their bulletin or bible after Mass are not far from this group.
The second category of persons who cannot deepen the word, are those who do not have time to reflect over the Word of God in relation to their lives; those who are strongly addicted to habits that are contrary to the gospel (the word cannot take root nor penetrate through their bad addictions).
The third category of persons who cannot treasure the word, are those who care so much about the things of this world. This includes those who are totally preoccupied with food, drink, business, market, friends, pleasures or material things of this world.
The fourth category of persons who understand the word and bear desired measure of good fruits, are those who pay attention to secure the word in their hearts, deepen it by reflection over their lives, treasure it over the cares and worries of this world, and allow the word to shape their minds, thoughts and actions.
CONCLUSION
God has deposited a good measure of the seed of his word in us. We should therefore ask ourselves today; Is God satisfied with our reception, reaction and output with the word of God? Is creation, the society satisfied with our output as children of God who bear the transforming seed of God? Does our life reflect the goodness, peace, and glory of God? What moral justifications do we have before the world for carrying the seed of God’s word?
Happy Sunday!
Fr. Justin