Word to the Wise
Friday, July 27, 2018 - Friday in the 16th Week in Ordinary Time
[Jer 3:14-17 and Matt 13:18-23]"Hear the parable of the sower. 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. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. 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. 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. 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." [Matthew]
Sometimes the liturgical calendar creates a problem for our reflection. Today we get the interpretation of a parable without having heard the parable which would have ordinarily appeared on Wednesday in the sixteenth week of ordinary time [Year II]. But the feast of St. James "bumped it." We will have to wait a couple of years until 2020 to get the parable itself on that Wednesday! Nevertheless, the interpretation does give us the outline of the parable and for the evangelist, that meaning is clear. It concerns how people respond to Jesus' word. At the same time, it is a reminder to the preacher not to get discouraged by the variation in responses!
It should be easy for us to see this parable in action around us. Faith faces tremendous challenges in our own time and society. Lifestyle choices which can include festivals, sports, jobs, etc. easily present obstacles to the seed of faith. The expression of faith requires effort and time. To attend Mass or receive any of the sacraments requires presence at particular times in particular places. When this conflicts with social or work requirements, the choice becomes difficult and we can look to the parable to see the example. We often don't realize that our faith is being choked by weeds or thorns until things get really bad. For the preacher, it is imperative that he or she not give up. People can move from one category to another if the right conditions occur. They can be encouraged to change their environment of faith so that they can better understand and be more fruitful. If we don't sow the seed or we let the weeds and thorns take over because of discouragement there will be no fruit at all! What is our own response to the word of Jesus? What are our choices that make for a better or lesser yield? AMEN