Daily Readings - Sun Jul 16 2023
Isaiah
10"For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,11so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
Romans
18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.22For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.23And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
Matthew
1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.2And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach.3And he told them many things in parables, saying: "A sower went out to sow.4And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.5Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil,6but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away.7Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.8Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.9He who has ears, 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.