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Meditation: Isaiah 55:10-11

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

My word … shall not return to me void. (Isaiah 55:11)

A farmer is very careful during planting season. He selects the best seeds, chooses the most fertile land, and plants each crop in just the right location. He does all of this in the expectation of a good harvest. Yet despite all his effort, he can’t make the seeds grow. It’s up to the seeds themselves.

By contrast, it’s our heavenly Father who makes the seed of faith in our hearts grow and bear fruit. And he does it by pouring his word on us like a gentle rain shower.

Today’s first reading tells how fruitful God’s word is: it never comes back to him empty! His words are promises filled with divine potential. Every day, our Father speaks words of life over us. He tells us about his hope-filled plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11). He tells us about his everlasting love for us (31:3). He tells us that he delights in us (Isaiah 62:4). And he tells us that we are blessed because we can see signs of his presence in the world (Matthew 13:13). If we can accept these words, they will unleash grace in our lives that will make us into fruitful, attractive witnesses to our faith.

Do you want to bear fruit for the Lord? Then take hold of God’s word and never let it go. Every day, spend time with the Scriptures. Let them speak to your heart. Let them form your mind. Let them guide your actions. If you haven’t done it already, read the articles in the front of this magazine. They’re all about finding God’s presence through his word, and they’ll help you discover the grace that God has planted in you like a seed.

Jesus is speaking his word to you all the time. Right now, at this very moment, he wants to tell you something. Take the time to listen.

“Father, open my eyes to see you. Open my ears to hear you. Open my heart to receive you. Come, Lord, and speak life to my soul!”

Psalm 65:10-14; Romans 8:18-23; Matthew 13:1-23

Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion

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

1. In the first reading, God tells us through the metaphor of rain how fruitful his word is: “my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.” What do these words mean to you? How do they apply to your life?

2. In the responsorial psalm, again we read of the “fruitful harvest” because God has “visited the land and watered it.” In what way is this related to the metaphor of rain in the first reading and the role of God’s word in preparing, “breaking” and “softening” our hearts? Can you give an example when God’s word softened your heart and lead to fruitful changes?

3. In the letter to the Romans, St. Paul compares the “slavery” to sin with the “glorious freedom” of the children of God. Where in your life have you experienced “glorious freedom” and victory over sin?

4. In the Gospel, we read once again of the seed and the harvest. Which of the soils described in the Parable of the Sower best describes the state of your heart? What steps can you take to make your heart a “rich soil” that “hears the word and understand it” and “bears fruit?”

5. Jesus also speaks of those who look but do not see, and those who hear but do not listen. When receiving the Eucharist at Mass this week, how careful are you to prepare your heart and mind to really see and listen? What about just prior to hearing the Sunday Mass readings? What additional steps can you take to prepare your heart and mind, both before and during Mass?

6. The meditation challenges us with these words: “Do you want to bear fruit for the Lord? Then take hold of God’s word and never let it go. Every day, spend time with the Scriptures. Let them speak to your heart. Let them form your mind. Let them guide your actions.” If you don’t already have a daily time of Scripture reading, are you willing to commit to reading and reflecting on the Scriptures each day. If not, why not? If you already have a daily time of Scripture reading, are there some steps you can take to improve it?

7. Take some time now to pray for the grace to allow Scriptures, the Word of God, to transform you and “speak life” to your soul. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.

A Christian Pilgrim

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER [2]

(A biblical reflection on the 15th Ordinary Sunday – 13 July 2014)

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:1-9 (long version: Matthew 13:1-23)

First Reading: Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalms: Psalm 65:10-14, Second Reading: Romans 8:18-23

The Scripture Text
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about Him, so that He got into a boat and sat there; and the whole crowd stood on the beach. And He told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away. Other seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” (Mt 13:1-9 RSV)

The Bible is not a list of dos and don’ts nor it a collection of lofty ideals and noble characters for our imitation. Certainly, Scripture contains many moral lessons and uplifting stories, but it is much more than this, Scripture is the mind and heart of God revealed to humanity. We could say that just as Jesus is the God in human form, Scripture is the grace of God in written form. As powerful and life-changing as Jesus is, that is how powerful and life-changing the power of Scripture is! We simply need to be open to God.

The starting point is to realize that our thoughts are not God’s thoughts. Are we (you and I) open to seeing things differently? Are we willing to let God change our mindsets? If so, then we’re ready to read Scripture for what it truly is. The promise of the Christian life is that if we open the doors of our hearts to God, He will use the Scriptures to transform us and to lift us up into His presence.

Of course, while God does the work, we will still have to be attentive and make ourselves available to God as we read the Scriptures. Through His “parable of the sower and the seed”, Jesus illustrated the ability of His word to bear fruit when it falls into good soil. So, let’s start today. Let’s soak our minds in God’s word. Let’s dwell on the readings we hear at Mass today. Let’s believe that His word always accomplishes that which He intends (Isaiah 55:11) than an intellectual inquiry. It’s an opportunity to become united to God. Let’s experiment with ways to allow Scripture to take root in our hearts and minds. The results will be out of this world!

Prayer: Holy Spirit, God, open my heart to the power of God’s word in the Scripture. Help me to learn God’s ways. Make me into good soil that receives the seed of Your precious word and bears in me the fruit of your love.