Daily Readings - Sun Jul 16 2023

¹⁰As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,¹¹so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Romans

Chapter 8

¹⁸I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.¹⁹The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.²⁰For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope²¹that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.²²We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.²³Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Matthew

Chapter 13

¹That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake.²Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore.³Then he told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed.⁴As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.⁵Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow.⁶But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.⁷Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants.⁸Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.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.