15th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Isaiah 55:10–11
Psalm 65:10, 11, 12–13, 14
Romans 8:18–23
Matthew 13:1–23
God’s Word is effective. It does what it says. Today’s First Reading states this poetically with images from nature.
“Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.”
This is a consoling message during times of transition and change, especially when we question whether what we have done ourselves will bear fruit. As long as we have done our best to plant the seed of God’s Word, we can be confident that God will see to the growth.
The Responsorial Psalm also offers a word of hope: “The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.” When we prepare our hearts to receive the Word, we discover that our commitment yields more than we could ever have done on our own and something more wonderful than we could ever imagine.
God accomplishes His Will in us, and He shares with us His own Life. The ground is our life in this world, and the fruitful harvest is the community life we experience that is an anticipation of eternal life.
This weekend, the Diocese of Columbus is experiencing what is no doubt the greatest rearrangement of priests and parishes that has ever happened in our history. This will be a time that will become “the stuff of legend.”
It is something we pray, as Bishop Earl Fernandes has commented, that we will never have to experience again. Yet, it is also a time that can be an opening to something new and more amazing than we have ever imagined. Adapting to a new situation is difficult, but it is also the only way to grow.
God has a plan for our diocese and for each of our parishes and for all of our priests, religious and laity. That plan will be accomplished according to His Will if we open our hearts to His Word. The fruit that is promised is the kingdom.
We must renew our commitment to God and to one another. Communication, teamwork and openness to the enthusiasm of youth and the wisdom of age are the hallmarks of people who are willing to work together to respond to the Word that is spoken to us through the circumstance in which we find ourselves. We are charged to share the Word, to be agents of evangelization and to encourage everyone to respond to God’s call in their lives. God has promised that His Word can find its home in us.
St. Paul reminds us that what we experience now is nothing compared to what God has in store for us: “Brothers and sisters: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God.”
Jesus calls us to recognize the blessing of being members of His flock. He has opened our eyes to see and understand what the world longs to experience. “But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
This weekend, as many of our parishes greet new pastors and parochial vicars and as the priests meet their new people, may we truly be “good ground.” Let us be ready to see and hear and understand, so that the life we share as a Church may become a source of rich growth and a bountiful harvest for all.