Daily Readings - Sun Jul 16 2023

¹⁰And in the same manner as rain and snow descend from heaven, and no longer return there, but soak the earth, and water it, and cause it to bloom and to provide seed to the sower and bread to the hungry¹¹so also will my word be, which will go forth from my mouth. It will not return to me empty, but it will accomplish whatever I will, and it will prosper in the tasks for which I sent it

Romans

Chapter 8

¹⁸For I consider that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with that future glory which shall be revealed in us¹⁹For the anticipation of the creature anticipates the revelation of the sons of God²⁰For the creature was made subject to emptiness, not willingly, but for the sake of the One who made it subject, unto hope²¹For the creature itself shall also be delivered from the servitude of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the sons of God²²For we know that every creature groans inwardly, as if giving birth, even until now²³and not only these, but also ourselves, since we hold the first-fruits of the Spirit. For we also groan within ourselves, anticipating our adoption as the sons of God, and the redemption of our body

Matthew

Chapter 13

¹In that day, Jesus, departing from the house, sat down beside the sea²And such great crowds were gathered to him that he climbed into a boat and he sat down. And the entire multitude stood on the shore³And he spoke many things to them in parables, saying: "Behold, a sower went out to sow seed⁴And while he was sowing, some fell beside the road, and the birds of the air came and ate it⁵Then others fell in a rocky place, where they did not have much soil. And they sprung up promptly, because they had no depth of soil⁶But when the sun rose up, they were scorched, and because they had no roots, they withered⁷Still others fell among thorns, and the thorns increased and suffocated them⁸Yet some others fell upon good soil, and they produced fruit: some one hundred fold, some sixty fold, some thirty fold⁹Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear.

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the power of God’s word and the hope it brings to our lives. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear that just as rain and snow nourish the earth and bring forth life, so too does God’s word accomplish its purpose. It does not return empty but bears fruit in those who receive it. This reminds us of the reliability and fruitfulness of God’s promises. The second reading from Romans deepens this theme by speaking of the hope that sustains us amidst suffering. St. Paul reminds us that the struggles of this life are nothing compared to the glory that awaits us. Creation itself groans in anticipation of the revelation of God’s children, and we, too, groan inwardly as we await the fullness of our adoption. This hope is not wishful thinking but a confident trust in God’s plan. In the Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the sower to teach us about the different ways people respond to God’s word. The seed represents the word of God, and the various types of soil represent the dispositions of our hearts. Some hearts are hardened, others are shallow, and still, others are distracted by the cares of the world. But the good soil, which is fertile and receptive, bears abundant fruit. This parable challenges us to examine our own hearts and ask: “What kind of soil am I?” Do we allow God’s word to take root in us, or do we let the challenges of life choke it out? These readings call us to trust in the power of God’s word and to cultivate hearts that are open and receptive to it. Just as the rain and snow bring life to the earth, God’s word has the power to transform us and bring forth fruit in our lives. Let us not lose hope, even when we face struggles, for we know that our present sufferings are not worthy to be compared with the glory that awaits us. May we be like the good soil, bearing fruit in abundance, and may we trust in God’s promise to bring his word to fulfillment in our lives.