Rev. Fr. (Dr.) Osmond Anike

Readings:

First Reading:Isaiah 55:10-11 – The word that goes out from my mouth does not return to me empty.

Responsorial Psalm:Psalm 64(65):10-14 – Some seed fell into rich soil and produced its crop.

Second Reading:Romans 8:18-23 – The whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal his sons.

Gospel:Matthew 13:1-23 – A sower went out to sow.

The parable of the sower is a very well-known parable in the Bible. Jesus talks about a sower going out to sow; but quickly thereafter, the narrative shifted attention from the sower to the soil. Emphases from then on were placed on the different soils where the seeds were scattered. Some of the soils were able to produce fruits while some were not able. Yet, the parable is called the parable of the sower and not the parable of the soil. Well, if we read this parable from the perspective of the sower (Jesus Christ) we shall observe that, indeed, the parable talks about the generosity of Jesus Christ in giving out his words to everybody. The word of God is given out gratuitously to everybody irrespective of whether the person receiving it is good or bad. However, although the word of God is given freely to everybody, not everybody has the disposition to accept it and allow it to produce its fruit. This is where the soil factor comes in.

The parable mentioned four identifiable groups of seeds, each with different outcome because of the soil factor. The seeds were all good seeds with equal potentials to produce fruits. However, the first group did not even kick-start their potential. While the second group kick-started, they did not endure. The third group was very promising in that they not only kick-started, they endured for a while, but did not however produce anything in the end. It was only the fourth group that eventually fulfilled its potentials by producing fruits in different categories. Jesus told the parable publicly to the crowd, but later explained it privately to his disciples. From the explanations of Jesus, one can identify four categories of people (Christians) with regards to attitudes toward the word of God. In every congregation, one can find these four groups of people.

The first category is the seeds that fell by the wayside. This category of people didn’t even takeoff at all. They heard the word of God; but it did not penetrate at all. They just lacked the understanding. Imagine hearing a completely foreign language without having the slightest idea what is being talked about. Sometimes, the word of God might appear as a foreign language when it challenges us to take a second look at our assumptions. If you approach a foreign language from the standpoint of your own familiar language, you will never learn that foreign language. But if you approach it like a child learning a language for the first time, you will soon discover that the words might sound familiar, but they have altogether different meanings. The word of God does not germinate in the hearts of many because they fail to approach it like a child learning a new language.

The second category is the seeds that fell on patches of rock. This group took off quite alright by germinating. However, they did not endure because of lack of depth. For Christians in this category, they receive the word of God with joy and enthusiasm. But they are not grounded well in the teaching and therefore lack root. When one sees the word of God as addressing the other and not oneself, one risks not being grounded in the word of God. Sometimes, we see people appreciating the word of God or the preaching of a priest as long as they feel it is being addressed to others and not to themselves. Of what use is the word of God to you if it is only being addressed to others (your perceived enemies) and not to you? Again, when one views the word of God and preaching as a side-show, one risks entertaining oneself but understanding nothing. When the word of God is preached, it is meant to instruct, to encourage, to reprimand, but never to entertain. But a lot of people have reduced the word of God to entertainment theatre. No wonder when you hear people say, “The preacher preached wonderfully well today”, it generally translates, “I thoroughly entertained myself today”. It is because of this desire to entertain that makes such person unable to say exactly what he/she learnt from the so-called wonderful preaching.

The third category is the seeds that fell among the thorns. This category is very promising in that they germinated and endured for a while; but could not sustain the growth because of other conflicting desires – desires so strong that they end up chocking the seeds that have already taken root in them. Riches and possessions are not bad in themselves. However, attachment to them is what makes them destructive. When you are obsessively attached to possessions, you end up being possessed by them. And possession goes with anxiety, insecurity and worry – the very things that destroy the seed of the gospel and spirituality.

The fourth category is the seeds that fell on rich soil. This group realized their potentials by not only germinating but enduring and finally producing crops. The secret of their success does not lie in the type of seeds that were sown but rather in the disposition of their hearts for the seeds to find their ultimate fulfilment. When one provides the necessary and sufficient conditions for the word of God to thrive in one’s heart, it will thrive. In the end, what counts is not the number of seeds one produces but rather whether one produces seeds. This should be consoling and reassuring news to us: One does not need to be 100% fruitful in order to be considered productive. There are some seeds that produced a hundredfold, some that produced sixty, and some that produced thirty. The most important thing is to have produced crops no matter how small. If we allow the seed of the gospel to produce even a single crop in our heart, we shall have been considered very productive.