Homily: Saturday, 24th Week in Ordinary Time

Readings: 1 Tim 6:13-16 • Psalm 100 • Luke 8:4-15

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Coincidentally, in our parish Bible Study, we happen to be studying Mark’s version of the "Parable of the Sower," a parable included in all three synoptic Gospels. Of course, it’s among the more widely known of Jesus’ parables – and has been the object of so many commentaries and homilies that I always wonder what I can possibly say about it that everyone hasn't already heard. Maybe the best thing is simply to tell you what runs through my mind whenever I hear or read this “Parable of the Sower.”

The first thing I find myself thinking is that it should be called it the “Parable of the Soil.” That’s certainly what I focus on as I meditate on Jesus’ words and try to identify which type of soil I most closely resemble. And I suppose many of you respond to this parable in pretty much the same way.

When you listen to this parable do you say to yourself, “Yep, I’m pretty thorny…or rocky…or maybe even rich today...” And then, just leave it at that. That’s the trouble when something is so familiar, like this parable. So often we fail to take the next step, the one Jesus invites us to take.

God’s Word, that seed, demands we do more than merely listen. We must also understand, and from that understanding, that awareness, we must act. We hear the parable, but we really don’t dig very deeply into our own soil to see what kind of shape it’s in, to see if it’s well-prepared. And if it’s not in good shape, to find out why, and then to do something about it.

I’m always telling young people that they can be greatly influenced by the people they hang out with. Well, it’s no different with us, is it? We, too, are easily influenced.

If we focus only on our work, how we earn a living, or for us retired folks, if we spend most of our time playing golf, or going out for dinner and drinks, or going to neighborhood activities, or just being a couch potato…all the while not thinking much about our spiritual life and well-being…well, our spiritual soil is probably lacking, not well-prepared.

How much richer would it be if we were all well connected with our parish, were actively involved in one or more ministries, doing God’s will in our little slice of His creation?

How about improving our “listening to God” skills by making an occasional weekend retreat?

Or spending an hour or two a week in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament?

Or praying together daily with a spouse or friend? We are called to community, and so it’s a good thing to pray together, especially in the family.

All of this grounds us in our Faith, tills our soil so it can receive God’s Word, which is Jesus Christ. That’s what’s special about the good soil; it’s been prepared, so it will be receptive to the seed. But the soil needs constant care, doesn’t it? How will you and I receive the Word tomorrow, next week, or the rest of the year?

Will it fall on the path, or will it have to deal with rocks and thorns; or will it find our soil well prepared, rich, and fertile?

By building up our soil through prayer, good works, good attitudes, good habits, we make ourselves fertile receptors of the Word.   

As we go our separate ways today, let’s remember what Jesus told us, that when we hear the Word, we must embrace it with a "generous and good heart," so it will "bear fruit through perseverance." [Lk 8:15]

Jesus always gives us a choice, but He also guides us. To help us choose correctly, He gives us His Church and her sacraments, her engines of grace. As we make our way through these challenging times, why not begin with the sacrament of reconciliation to breaking up all that hard soil. Then we can all enrich it with God’s own presence in the Eucharist.

Our loving God wants your life to be abundantly fruitful, for as St. Paul reminded us, "God...gives life to all things..." [1 Tim 6:13] But how we live that life is our gift to God.