July 10: Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Scripture readings: 

• Isaiah 55:10-11
• Psalm 65:10-14
• Romans 8:18-23
• Matthew 13:1-23

Synopsis:  
Many people think that the Bible is irrelevant to life in the modern world. While it’s true that the Bible is old, it can still speak to people today if they’re willing to listen.

The first reading was selected to parallel this week’s Gospel. Isaiah uses images from nature to illustrate how God’s word affects those who hear it: Like rain that falls softly on the ground, the word of God falls on the ears of the faithful, inspiring them to do his will. Isaiah wrote these words when the people of God were in exile, far away from the Temple and their beloved homeland. As strangers in a strange land, their only connection with God was through Scripture, which gave them great consolation.

In the second reading Paul explains how the earth itself groans under the weight of sin. Adam’s disobedience had consequences not only for the human race, but for the whole creation. When Adam fell he dragged creation down with him. Its restoration began with the New Adam: Jesus Christ. The new creation starts with Christ who works through us “who have the first fruits of the Spirit.”  Like the prophet Isaiah, Jesus also taught from the “book of nature.”

Using imagery based from everyday life familiar to his disciples, Jesus explains in this week’s Gospel how people relate to God’s word. The parable of the sower illustrates how different kinds of people receive the word of the Lord. Some are impervious to God’s word. Others are preoccupied by worldly concerns, while still others are deceived by “the evil one.”  But there are some who are open to God’s word and gladly listen to it. Such openness leads to a response of faith, which results in an abundant harvest of good deeds.

Key verse:
“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” (Mt 13:23).

Catechism of the Catholic Church:
“To welcome Jesus' word is to welcome ‘the kingdom itself.’ The seed and beginning of the kingdom are the ‘little flock’ of those whom Jesus came to gather around him, the flock whose shepherd he is.  They form Jesus' true family” (No. 764).

Pope Benedict XVI:
“God makes himself known to us as a mystery of infinite love in which the Father eternally utters his Word in the Holy Spirit. Consequently the Word, who from the beginning is with God and is God, reveals God himself in the dialogue of love between the divine persons, and invites us to share in that love” (“Verbum Domini,” 6).

Application:
Whenever we encounter with the word of God, especially at Mass, God invites us to enter into a dialogue of love. After hearing his word, God awaits our response, which is formalized in the recitation of the creed and the reception of holy Communion.  But our response mustn’t stop there. The word of God which we receive in Scripture and the Eucharist must bear fruit in our lives.

James Cavanagh is director of Evangelization and Catechesis for Metro-area Parishes of the Denver Archdiocese. Cavanagh’s column is distributed by the Denver Catholic Register.