Understanding God through Listening (Homily for Wednesday of the 16th week in Ordinary time year II July 24 2024
Homily for Wednesday of the 16th week in Ordinary time year II July 24 2024 Understanding God through Listening For the past two days, the gospel readings have focused on the theme of listening. Yesterday, Jesus elevated those who listen to Him to the status of being His mother, brothers, and sisters. But what does this listening entail? Jesus answers this question in today's gospel through the parable of the sower. In this parable, the same seeds react differently when they encounter various types of soil. The seed represents the Word of God, and the different soils symbolize the various dispositions of our hearts. Listening is not merely hearing someone speak; it involves properly disposing one's heart to wholeheartedly receive what is being said. The Word of God is alive and active everywhere, destined to bring about transformation when it meets an open heart. When the heart is not open, the Word does not force itself, and transformation is hindered. It is possible to hear