READINGS FOR THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A, SUNDAY, 16TH JULY, 2023.

First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11

Psalm: 64

Second Reading: Romans 8:18-23

Gospel: Matthew 13:1-23

REFLECTION BY FR. CORNELIUS NWAOGWUGWU, CM.

THE ROLE OF PARABLE IN SHARING THE GOOD NEWS

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

You are welcome to the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A. Today’s liturgical celebration reminds us of our merciful Saviour, Jesus Christ. He came into this world to proclaim and share the Word of God, the Good News. To achieve this aim, Jesus used parables to make known to us the mysteries of God’s Kingdom.

The term “parable” comes from the Greek word parabole, which means, putting two things side by side in order to compare them. It is fascinating to know that parables are simple in appearance but deal with obscure topics. Parables make the uncertain and complex topics seem easy. That is exactly how Jesus uses parables to make complex topics easy to understand. When Jesus speaks to people, He uses parables to make concepts understandable for them. Jesus places a simile from life against the abstract idea of the truth and the reign of God. This shows that parables activate and put form to truth that transforms lives.

In respect of these notions on parables, today’s readings reveal the role of parable in sharing the Good News. Today’s readings also reveal the truth of the transforming power of the Word of God in our lives.

In the First Reading, the Lord says: “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.” With these words from the Lord, the prophet Isaiah consoled the Jewish slaves in Babylon. He assured them that, God’s Word will certainly accomplish its purpose. It means that the word that goes from the mouth of God does not return empty without carrying out God’s will. It must succeed in what it was sent to do. With these words of encouragement, the Jews in exiles returned to their homes as God promised. (Isaiah 55:10-11).

In the Second Reading, St. Paul reminds us of the need to wait patiently for our eternal reward. He says: just as seeds fall into the earth and die to produce abundant crop, we have to wait patiently for our eternal reward while we continue to share the Word of God to all nations. (Romans 8:18-23).

Today’s Gospel teaches us about the parable of the seed and the soil. The Gospel of Matthew says that the Word of God is the seed, and our hearts are the soil. Using the parable of the sower in today’s Gospel, Jesus assured his confused disciples that the “Good News” He preached would produce the intended effect in spite of opposition. In this parable, Jesus makes known to us the different ways in which people respond to the proclamation of the Word of God. The parable reminds us that our reception of God’s Word is determined by the condition of our hearts. Some people are simply lukewarm and disconnected with things of God. Other people are not interested to hear the Word of God. Some are interested to hear the Word of God but are worried and distracted by so many things around them that does not allow the Word of God to touch into their hearts. Other people are completely interested in listening to the Word of God with commitment and they bear fruits in hundred folds. The parable tells us to do our part by preparing fertile soil in our hearts in which the Word of God can germinate, grow, and yield in abundance. (Matthew 13:1-23).

As Christians, we need to read the Word of God every day, starting with a prayer to the Holy Spirit for the gifts of attentive reading and the ability and willingness to apply the message we receive to our daily living.

Jesus challenges us in the parable of the sower to listen intently to God’s Word, to be open to it, and to allow our lives to be shaped by its power to sow seeds of encouragement, joy, and reconciliation. We are called to imitate the seed’s total giving of self that becomes the harvest of the Gospel of peace, love, justice and joy.

May God help us with His grace to be totally disposed to receive his Word, the Good News and to share it to yield a hundredfold of abundant fruits now and forever. Amen.
Fr. Cornelius Nwaogwugwu, CM.