What type of soil have I become?-Homily for the 15th Sunday in ordinary time 16th July 2023

Homily for 15th Sunday in ordinary time

Isaiah 55:10-11; Ps.65; Rom.8:18-23; Matthew 13:1-23

 _The seed that fell into good soil yielded a hundredfold_ (Lk.8:8a)

What type of soil have I become?

God did not create a world and abandon it; He continues to affect the affairs of men and order the working principles of the world. God intervenes in the world through His Word. If God is able to intervene in the world of men through spoken Word, it means that the spoken Word of God is not ordinary or empty. God’s Word is alive and active; having the capacity to bring about positive transformation. The power of the Word has always been, for by the Word, the world was created; by the Word, the Trinity was invoked in the creation of man; by the Word, the world was saved when it had entangled itself to the clutches of sin and death. By the Word, Jesus instituted the sacraments through which he continues to remain with us, imparting us with supernatural grace. The point here is: the Word of God is powerful in itself and through this Word God has continued to care for the earth.

Consequently, in the first reading of today, the Lord speaking through prophet Isaiah reiterated the tenacity of the Word: the Word of God cannot fail; it cannot be obstructed; it cannot be fruitless. This assurance is so important especially to enable us decipher what the problem may be today that the lives of many seem not to be bearing desirable fruits despite the fact that they are connected with the Word of God. If God’s Word cannot fail, how come some lives remain untransformed after encountering the Word? How come the more churches spring up, preaching the Word, the vices of men seem to increase even by greater propensity? How is it that people are able to encounter this same powerful Word on Sunday but become champions of wickedness the following days in their workplaces? How do we understand the powerfulness of God’s Word?

The fact that God’s Word remains powerful to bring about positive transformation in our world and lives does not mean that the Word works like magic. The Word necessarily cooperates with our hearts in bringing about positive transformation. God does not force himself on us; so if our hearts are not properly disposed to cooperate with the Word, the power of the Word will not be made manifest in our hearts. So, if we are encountering God’s Word and we are not being transformed, the issue is never on the viability of the seed (the Word) but on the readiness of our hearts; in other words, the fault is not God’s but ours.

In the gospel reading, Jesus told a parable using agricultural terms to describe the various forms of dispositions that the human hearts can have. Buttressing the fact that the fault is not God’s, we notice that the same seeds were sown in the various forms of soils. So, the difference in growth was as a result of the different soils. Explaining this parable further to the disciples, Jesus mentioned the particular problem with the different soils that made them incapable of producing fruits with the seeds sown on them. From Jesus’ further explanation, we are able to humbly and truthfully mirror ourselves to see what type of soil our hearts have become.

The first soil (along the path) was not able to bear fruits with the seed because the birds devoured the seed; that is, the seeds were never sown into the soil. Jesus explained that the problem here is lack of understanding. Without understanding, our encounter with the Word of God will not be able to bear fruits in us. Understanding means being able to draw the Word from its historical timing to appropriate it into our present time. It is knowing how God’s Word applies to us today. The Word of God contains history but it is not a book of history. It was written in the words of men, yet it remains the inspired Word of God. Understanding the Word means knowing the mind of God from the all the events recorded in the pages of the scriptures. To do this, we need to be fond of the Word. The more you stay and interact with a person, the better you are able to understand the person. Again, the more you pay attention to a person, the better you know the person.

One who does not have or read the bible can hardly understand it. One who comes late to Church, will not grow in understanding. One who does not utilize the various lay apostolic groups, bible study sessions/know your faith, school of faith, but relies on only the homily, may not understand much. The point is, to understand the Word, we must increase our familiarization with the Word; we must invest our time and resources into opportunities to learn more. Without proper understanding, we can be swept away by false doctrines and interpretations.

The second soil (rocky ground) was fruitless because soon after the seed sprang up, it was scorched by the sun. The problem here is lack of firm foundation; lack of faith. If we do not believe in the power of the Word, we may carry it on our lips but will soon drop it when the chips are down. Many Christians are like this. They know the Word only when all is well. They go to Church but with a plan B. They may trust God but not entirely. If we are not giving God our all, God is not taking anything at all from us. Consistency is key. Whatever you are not consistent with will not make much impact for/in you. If you can trust that God alone is enough, the Word will bear fruits in you.

The third soil (thorns) was fruitless because of lack of discipline. An undisciplined hearts gives in to worldly distractions either in terms of incessant crave for wealth or the cares of the world. Beloved, learn to always do your best and leave the rest in God’s hands. Do not be too busy for God; do not be too greedy that you have no space for God. So, the second reading calls us to be persevering in our experience of suffering because it is nothing compared to the fruitfulness of the Word if we continue in it to the end. Do not leave God for any reason. No matter how hard the examination of life is for you, know today that the final result is in the hands of God.

Let us therefore sanitize our hearts and recommit them to God so that encountering the Word, we may bear fruits in plenty.