1 Cor. 15:35-37,42-49, Ps. 56:10-14, Luke 8:4-15
“To you, it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others, they are in parables so that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.” (Luke 8:10)
Today’s readings seek to drive home certain deep-seated theological truths using the analogy of what farmers do when they sow seeds in expectation of harvesting.
In other to refute the arguments of those who do not believe in the possibility of rising from the dead, St. Paul says, just as a seed is sown in the ground and dies first before producing a plant, so also when we die, our bodies decay but at the resurrection, we shall have a more glorious appearance. This explains why Mary Magdalene could not recognize Jesus at the resurrection. She mistook her beloved Jesus for a gardener until he called her name.
Jesus makes the point that the word of God is like a seed sown across different soils by a farmer. Normally a farmer would prepare the ground, clear the grasses, remove the thorns and mature the place before attempting to sow. Only a careless farmer goes about spreading the seeds everywhere freely even on the road and on rocks. The carelessness of God in sowing the Goodnews appears foolish to human understanding but it shows His generosity. Everyone is given a chance and an opportunity to gain heaven. This is why you dare not restrict who you preach to. Everyone deserves to hear the Gospel.
There are different hearts, the stony heart, the root-less heart, the distracted heart, and the rich heart. There are different ways people respond when they hear the word of God, but the beauty of it all is that the word of God is so powerful that in whatever heart it enters, it does not remain stale. Something must happen. The seed must grow. Whether it bears fruit eventually is up to us and the kind of reception we give to God’s words.
Let us pray: Almighty ever-living Father, open our hearts to understand your word so that we may apply it in our lives. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of week 24 in Ordinary Time, Bible Study: 1 Cor. 15:35-37,42-49, Ps. 56:10-14, Luke 8:4-15).
© Rev. Fr. Evaristus Abu