Patience, Patience........

Readings for Sunday July 10, 2011

15th Sunday in Ordinary time



Have you ever wished that God would just come out and tell you directly what He wants of you instead of being so secretive? Ever wonder why Jesus so often used parables instead of coming out directly and telling people what He meant? This Sunday’s Gospel reading brings us to the Parable of the Sower, in which Jesus tells us not only how to prepare ourselves to get to heaven, but also gives us an explanation as to why He speaks so often in the coded language of parables. Of course Jesus could have just come out and told the crowd exactly what He was thinking. Instead, He decides to speak in a hidden style, causing the people to think through what He is saying. This style of teaching is the Lord’s way of making us ‘earn’ His point. Instead of just handing it to us without any effort, He gives the full meaning of His lesson to those who really want to work for it. In this way, the Lord is guarding Himself, not giving away His ‘pearls’ to those who will treat them without respect. In particular, Jesus gives Himself to those who are humble of heart, to those who have a real desire for Him. Many do not have the desire for God, and because of their pride, they go on with life without really thinking that they need Jesus. Parables are meant to confuse the proud: Without a conversion of heart, they will never be able to comprehend what God has in store for them. This is God’s irony that those who are simple, who make it a point to trust God, will end up with more understanding than those who try to live life on their own efforts, talents and studies. Our culture and society tell us that we should be the masters of our own lives that we should look out for number one. This philosophy is anti-Christian, for as Christians we believe that Jesus is Number One, the source of everything that is good. As Christians we should always be about pleasing Jesus over anyone else, including ourselves. No matter the situation we may find ourselves in, we are always called to do good and act according to His will. Jesus’ will in our lives gives us more joy and satisfaction than anything we could come up with on our own. May we have the courage to ask God for a deeper ‘dose’ of humility, and trust Him over our own abilities and talents.

Summary of the Gospel by YM Central


Reading 1 Isaiah 55:10-11

10 Thus says the LORD: 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, 11 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.
The first reading is taken from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 55:10-11. The word of God which came to the Chosen People through the prophets, and the divinely inspired writers, came out of God's loving interest in His people. He wanted to prepare them for the inheritance, the real "promised land," that, when the messianic age (the "fullness of time") came, would be theirs, provided their lives on earth were lived as they should be. — The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.

Reading II Romans 8:18-23

18 Brothers and Sisters: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us. 19 For creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God; 20 for creation was made subject to futility, not of its own accord but because of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that creation itself would be set free from slavery to corruption and share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. 22 We know that all creation is groaning in labor pains even until now; 23 and not only that, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, we also groan within ourselves as we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies.
The second reading is from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans 8:18-23 and is about present suffering and the glory of God. Suffering is an essential part of the Christian life and one who truly believes will have his or her share of hardships and trials. Yet, these are not ends in themselves, as there is hope that they will terminate with the full revelation of the glory of God. The theme and message of St. Paul is not to lose hope in the Lord into whose risen life we have been initiated by Baptism. — A Celebrants Guide to the New Sacramentary - A Cycle by Kevin W. Irwin

Gospel Reading Matthew 13:1-23

1 On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat down, and the whole crowd stood along the shore. 3 And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow 4 and as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, 6 and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. 7 Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. 8 But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. 9 Whoever has ears ought to hear.” 10 The disciples approached him and said, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” 11 He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. 12 To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand. 14 Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. 15 Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted, and I heal them. 16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. 17 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. 18 “Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. 20 The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. 21 But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. 22 The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. 23 But 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.”

Questions for Discussion

1. If you were to ‘modernize’ the parable of the Sower, what comparisons would you use instead of ‘seeds’ and a ‘sower’? Why?

2. What kind of soil best describes where you are at in your relationship to God right now? Are you a path, rocky ground, thorns or rich soil? Why?

3. How has God communicated to you in your life? Do you ever wish He’d just come out and tell you what He was thinking? Describe. What would you say to a person who thought that God needed to communicate more clearly?