The liturgy of today invites us to the ancient spiritual practice of Lectio Divina, which invites us to receive the Word of God with open hearts and minds. In it we read and meditate on the Sacred Scripture, allowing it to penetrate the depth of our being. This practice enables us to cultivate a fertile soil for God’s Word to take deep root in us, grow in us and bear good fruits in our lives. We are called today to evaluate our relationship with the word of God: how do we cultivate a receptive and open heart to God’s Word? In the first reading the prophet Isaiah likened the word of God to the rain and snow that nourishes the earth, with a promise to accomplish its purpose without returning to God void.
HE said, “As the rain and the snow comes down from heaven, and do not return without watering the earth… so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth” (Is 55:10-11). Rain and snow basically give life in a dry climate. It causes seeds to sprout and plants to grow. This cycle gives “seed to the sower and bread to the eater.” Both seed and bread are essential. While bread gives life for the present year, the seed gives life for the next or future year. This analogy serves as a reminder that God’s Word holds a profound purpose and effect in our lives. Using the figure of the water cycle, the Lord illustrates the essential principle that His word shall not return to Him void, but it shall accomplish what it please, to fulfill His purpose on earth.
Just as rain and snow accomplish God’s purpose in providing bread, so also God’s Word accomplishes its purpose in creating and sustaining life. His Word is not empty, or lacking in power, He does not speak in unfathomable mysteries just to blow our minds, or confuse us, or leave things up to any possible interpretation. When God speaks, He speaks to accomplish a purpose, either to acquit us or convict us. His Word stands as a double edged sword (Heb 4:12). When we open ourselves to the Word of God, it becomes “a lamp to our feet and a light to our path” (Ps. 119:160).
This way, the Word of God renews us, breathes new life into our spirits, and offers us a guide to navigate the complexity of life. In His Word we find wisdom, solace, comfort and strength. His Word gives us hope for a better tomorrow. Christ in the gospel speaks of the word of God in the parable of the sower and the seed. In this parable, Christ speaks according to the agricultural customs of His days. He describes the different types of soil: the path, rocky ground, thorny ground, and rich soil. These represent the receptiveness of our hearts to God’s word.
We notice the same seed that was cast by the same sower on different soil. The major problem in this parable is the soil and not the sower nor the seed. Therefore, we cannot blame the differences in results on the sower or on the seed. In other words, if the problem is not with the seed, then it lies with the receiver; Put differently, our attitude towards the word of God. His word awaits a response, but he also empowers us to respond. This parable speaks personally to each of us today. If we sincerely examine ourselves in the light of today’s gospel, we will convincingly find our place within it.
Are we like the hardened path that the Word of God cannot penetrate our hearts? Or the rocky ground that lacks perseverance in times of trials? Or like the thorny soil, choked up with materialism and hindering us from bearing fruits? Or are we like the fertile soil with open mind and disposition to receive God’s Word? The parable of the sower compels us to ask, “What kind of soil am I? How can I prepare my heart and mind to be the right kind of soil?”am I receptive to God’s word? If not, how can I cultivate a receptive heart to His word in my daily life? God is the farmer who has sown a seed of love in all of us, good and bad alike.
Our reception of this seed determines the kind of soil we are. We are invited to cultivate a fertile soil, where God’s word will penetrate and bears good fruit. As the sower waits patiently for the fruits of the seed, St. Paul in the second reading said, “The creation waits for eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God…” (Rm 8:19). What is to be revealed, are the fruits of the Holy Spirit through the word of God we received in Christ. This means that as adopted children of God who bear his word, there is a great expectation from us.
This way, we are reminded to re-evaluate our relationship with the word of God. Unfortunately, for some of us, God’s word has lost its meaning and significance. It has become an old-fashioned story repeated for ages. Some have the mentality to just read or hear what the preacher has to say and continue with their usual way of life. However, we are called to value the word of God we receive, either through homilies or through scriptural reading. I once shared a famous story of a priest who “stole” from the family he visited.“
The priest asked about their wellbeing and spiritual life. The wife was quick to respond that they are fine and have been prayerful, reading their Bible on daily basis… when the priest left, she discovered the one hundred dollars note ($100) on her table was missing… The story spread among the families and neighbour that the priest stole their money. After months the priest visited the same family, asked about their spiritual life, same story was told and while they were discussing, jokingly she brought up the event of his previous visit, that when the priest left, her money got missing.
So, the priest demanded for their Bible, behold the money was inside. He told her, he removed the money from the table and placed in the Bible, hoping that in 24 hours, they will find it as they claim to read their Bible daily, but behold, for months this family has not opened their Bible.” There are lot of lessons we can draw from this story. We are charged today to bring down the Bible from the bookshelf where it has been, cobweb and dust it.
We can deepen our knowledge of the Scripture when we engage ourselves with it. The Word of God is a weapon capable of shaping and transforming us as it serves as spiritual nourishment to us, as the rain is to the soil. May this Word continue to fall on fertile soil and bear fruits in our lives through Christ our Lord. Amen! Happy Sunday!
• Rev. Fr. Ken Dogbo, OSJ is a priest of the Oblates of St. Joseph, Nigeria.
