FIFTEENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR "A"

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY OF YEAR I

Mt. 13, 1- 9:  THE SOWER

When this Gospel opens, Jesus is sitting by the Lake of Galilee. He is getting much needed relaxation. Suddenly out of that famous nowhere appears a great crowd. He springs to his feet lest he be trampled by those happy friendlies. They clamour for what they think will be an important lecture. One of the favourite outdoor sports of the country was to search out distinguished rabbis, pick their brains and drain them dry. Today was the turn of the rabbi from Nazareth. Good-naturedly, he obliges the almost playful mob. As they began pushing him into the Lake, he nimbly lifted himself into a large fishing boat and from the bow he continued his talk.

St. Matthew says this was the first parable Jesus spoke. So, he must have spent hours burning the midnight oil. This was to be his debut on the lecture circuit. So there is one more reason to pay this parable close attention. There is gold out there in those hills. We just have to dig it out with some good old-fashioned sweat. In the spiritual life, there is no such thing as a free lunch or a drink on the house.

God’s word is like rain from the sky. Rain makes the land green. There are some stony spots, though. These remain dry. So, my advice to preachers of the Word is the following. Please be warned! Don’t expect immediate results like a bunch of roses just because you think they delivered a stunning homily.

 Your congregation is con composed of saints. Some do want to become saints, but they’re in no hurry. And please improve your preaching and talk some sense. If in three minutes you don’t strike oil, stop boring! That was my advice to preachers. (I am in the same racket).

Having disposed of the preachers, let’s turn to the hearers of the Word. God’s word is powerful. God spoke and the birds and the fishes sprang into existence. And when it comes to talking to human beings, that’s another kettle of fish! The way God created us he can’t force his word on us. He expects us to receive it freely. According to Jesus there are four basic types of audience.

You know the old joke about the man who was looking for something on the ground. “What are you looking for?” asked a friend. “For a coin,” he replied. “I dropped it somewhere back there.”  “If you dropped it back there, why are you looking for it here?”  ”Because there is more light here!” he said.  We realise this logic is ridiculous; yet we see people everyday searching the wrong places for the things they desire: peace and happiness in drugs, alcohol and sensual excitement. If you want peace, you need to get hooked onto God in the deep soil of your self. If you want the company of good people, try going to the places where good people go  -  churches, charity functions, and community get-togethers.

 Good people will not be found where thieves and gangsters hang out. Those in search of an easier, softer way to obtain the important things of life, will find cheap imitations or nothing at all. The gold miner who searches for gold on the beach because the digging is easy, will certainly find lots of sand, but he’ll never find gold.

Today’s parable of the Sower can also be labelled as the parable of encouragement. Even the dullest farmer does not expect every single seed he sows to come up singing roses. He knows the birds will carry some seeds away; others will tumble out on the highway. However, he does keep on sowing and holds high the hope of a good crop.

In effect, Jesus is telling his own disciples never to give up even if our efforts seem an exercise in futility.

Let me end with the story of John Harvard. In 1640, he sailed to the American colonies from England. He was a most promising scholar.  But the poor fellow died after but one year. In his will he gave $ 3,500/- and 200 books to a fledgling university. As you have guessed, the school became Harvard University in Massachusetts. Today this University has 1,000 staff members and a student enrolment of 12,000. Harvard has international reputation. Mr. John Harvard’s untimely death may have seemed an abomination, but it produced riches beyond anybody’s imaginings.

 So today’s parable from Jesus teaches that even if much of your sweat goes for nothing, do not let your spirit go down with your sweat. The ballgame may go into extra innings. And your honourable self may prove to be as much a winner as was Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: (from the Chinese)

I pray thee, Lord, to make my faith as firmly established as a house built upon a rock, so that neither rain, flood nor wind can ever destroy it.

I pray thee, Lord, to purge me and take away my selfishness and sinful thoughts, so that I may bring forth more fruits of the Spirit.

I pray thee, Lord, to winnow the chaff from my heart and make it like the true wheat, fit to be garnered in thy barn.

I pray thee, Lord, to sow the good seed of virtue in my heart, letting it grow by day and night and bring forth a hundredfold.