Today’s readings are all about the power of God’s Word to take root in our hearts, minds and spirits. The Prophet Isaiah assures us that God’s Word will produce results, “…my word shall not return to me void…” He uses the imagery of watering the earth, “making it fertile and fruitful…” We see an image of a garden, an appropriate image this time of year, as we work to water, weed and feed our own personal garden patches. God, the Great Gardener of our spirits, gives us this same care and attention.
St. Paul today speaks of how all of creation, and we, “who have the first fruits of the Spirit” wait to be harvested by God. This is our redemption of which he speaks, the reward of the eternal for those who believe.
Jesus tells us the familiar parable in St. Matthew’s Gospel of the seeds and the sower, and He quotes Isaiah’s warning against closing our eyes and ears in allowing the Word of God to take root in us. The question is: What kind of ground are we for God’s word? “The seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” These are very clear words today from Jesus. Today the Psalm refrain is: “The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.” So, how do we become fertile soil for the Word?
We must always first begin with God, in all we say and all we do. Understanding is a grace, and if we are open to the Word, it will be given. His Word, then, must take root in love, and more importantly, in action: we must feed the poor (your families, too), comfort the sick (children and relatives), visit the imprisoned (homebound elderly), etc. You get the picture. That kind of action in our lives is a sign of true and fertile ground. We also attend Mass and other Church related activities as priorities in our lives. The liturgy (mass) is the summit of our worship, and then we must go home and have households of active faith.
There is a hymn text (refrain) that says: “So the Word came to the world, so the Word came to stretch His arms and die for the world. As He loved, so we live─to sow the Word.” Conversion and then action will make us fertile ground.
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
St. Paul today speaks of how all of creation, and we, “who have the first fruits of the Spirit” wait to be harvested by God. This is our redemption of which he speaks, the reward of the eternal for those who believe.
Jesus tells us the familiar parable in St. Matthew’s Gospel of the seeds and the sower, and He quotes Isaiah’s warning against closing our eyes and ears in allowing the Word of God to take root in us. The question is: What kind of ground are we for God’s word? “The seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.” These are very clear words today from Jesus. Today the Psalm refrain is: “The seed that falls on good ground will yield a fruitful harvest.” So, how do we become fertile soil for the Word?
We must always first begin with God, in all we say and all we do. Understanding is a grace, and if we are open to the Word, it will be given. His Word, then, must take root in love, and more importantly, in action: we must feed the poor (your families, too), comfort the sick (children and relatives), visit the imprisoned (homebound elderly), etc. You get the picture. That kind of action in our lives is a sign of true and fertile ground. We also attend Mass and other Church related activities as priorities in our lives. The liturgy (mass) is the summit of our worship, and then we must go home and have households of active faith.
There is a hymn text (refrain) that says: “So the Word came to the world, so the Word came to stretch His arms and die for the world. As He loved, so we live─to sow the Word.” Conversion and then action will make us fertile ground.
Keep singing!
Elizabeth Dyc
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