15th Week in Ordinary Time
16th July 2023 (Sunday) Readings and Reflection
Psalter: Week 3
Reading of the Day
First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11
Thus says the Lord: “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Psalm 65:10abcd, 10c-11, 12-13a, 13b-14 (R. Luke 8:8a)
R/. The seed that fell into good soil yielded a hundredfold.
Second Reading: Romans 8:18-23
Brethren: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Alleluia
V/. Alleluia R/. Alleluia
V/. The seed is the word of God, and Christ is the sower. All who come to him will have life for ever.
R/. Alleluia
Gospel : Matthew 13:1-23
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rockyground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says: “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.” But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. “Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”
Daily Gospel Reflection
Highlight: Fertile to fructify!
Guidlines: The fruitfulness of life is all a matter of receptivity and productivity, in terms of a conducive disposition and active cultivation and actualization{alertSuccess}
1. Life is meaningful when it is truly fruitful. Many live meaninglessly because they fail to live that meaning and worth of life in bearing fruits. Real fruitfulness is a matter of spiritual fecundity. The parable of the Sower in the gospel discusses this issue of fruitfulness.
2. Many fail to be fruit-bearing. What is the problem and what is the reason? The parable gives us the answer and thus the direction as well. The problem of not bearing fruit, is not of the seed. The seed is God’s Word, His grace, His gifts, His blessings. The seed is always the best, powerful and fecund.
3. God never lacks in providing the good seed of His Word and His grace, gifts and blessings. Lord, the Eternal Sower continues to sow the seeds in all of us. He never fails us in His care and never lacks us in providing the required conditions and graces for our growth and productivity.
4. This is what is affirmed in the first reading from Isaiah: Is. 55.10-11: His word is like rain which does not return to Him without effect. The grace of God always rains upon us. Rain descends on earth, irrigates it, nourishes it and makes life sprout up.
5. So, if the seed is excellent, if God’s grace is incessant and powerful, then why often not much effect is seen, and not much fruit is produced? It is because the growth and fruition of the seed depend upon the nature and quality of the soil that receives and nurtures the seed.
6. Now, there are four types of soil which receive the same seeds. The extent of bearing fruits depends on the type of the soil, in terms of its disposition of being conducive, receptive and thus productive.
7. What kind of soil are we?: Are we like the first soil of the road that has no permanence and stability, even to receive the seed, where absolutely there is no abiding, no retaining of the word, where the word does not even make an entry into the heart, where there is no taking root at all?
8. Are we like the second soil, the rocky, that lacks the rootedness and depth, where the word finds no deep root, where the receptivity is shallow and peripheral, where the seed gets scorched by any little heat?
9. Are we like the third soil, the thorny, that lacks the will to resist and persevere against the odd forces that choke and suffocate the growth, and thus easily succumbs to the deviated and distorted influences, where there are many worldly preoccupations and allurements, where the growth is choked by earthly inclinations and interests, and thereby no productivity?
10. Or, are we like the last soil that is fertile, receptive and responsive, responsible and productive?
11. Thus, ultimately, fruitfulness is a matter of one’s total receptivity to the seed of God’s Word and abundant productivity in fruits of good character and actions. Fruitfulness requires a docility that is humble and prompt (unlike the roadside soil), a depth that remains rooted and firm in God (unlike the rocky ground), resistance and perseverance to grow amidst bushes and thorns (unlike the thorny soil), and an assiduity to cultivate and produce an abundant harvest (like the fertile soil).
12. There is not much use to extol the greatness of God’s Word which is the seed. It is more useful to examine and improve the quality of the soil of our hearts and life.
13. Let us then do a sincere self-check with regard to God’s grace: Whether we are responding promptly, listening attentively, attending seriously, preserving profoundly, caring assiduously, preparing the soil wisely, cooperating wholeheartedly, and acting positively. In other words, removing all those factors that block and promote those conditions that lead to fecundity
Practice: The problem of productivity precisely is of sensitivity, openness, listening, seeing, feeling and acting. Let us be abundant in fruits and not merely in seeds of good desires, intentions, and words{alertSuccess}