HOMILY OF SUNDAY IN THE 15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A
Isaiah 55:10-11, Romans 8:18-23, Matthew 13:1-23
THEME: THE POWER OF GOD’S WORD
God does not encourage wastage. The idea behind recycling does not stop at reducing environmental pollution. It has a hinge on man’s creative ability, being able to bring out the new from the old. When Jesus fed the five thousand, he instructed his disciples to gather the remnants. God’s creative power has not ceased working.
In the first reading of today, in the book of Isaiah, the Lord said, “As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the Sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do.”
Nothing is without purpose in God’s creation. How we use God’s gifts is dependent on our level of appreciation for his provisions. The gift of God’s word is the most powerful among his gifts. It is, in essence, the gift of himself, as he embodies his word. To play with his word is to take him for granted.
In the gospel narrative, the Lord illustrates in the parable of the Sower, the diverse outcomes that arise from our reception of the word of God. Depending on how it is embraced, the same message can yield varying impacts on individuals.
We must not allow trials, worries and lure of riches to take the place of God’s word in our heart. No matter what we do or passing through, we must create a space for God’s word. His words are powerful, they are spirit and life. God’s words produce fruits of joy, peace, and happiness. His words guide and direct our paths.
May God’s word be written boldly in our heart. And may his voice be distinct in our ears, through Christ our Lord. Amen.
