Words are cheap these days. In the advent of the abolishment of the Criminal Libel Law, millions of words stream over both the print and electronic media. To the extent that people do not take speakers serious. Whatever exists in abundance like the sand on the sea shore is not held in high esteem. Hence the saying “Action speaks louder than words.
Although, words have been cheapened in our culture, chiefly through overuse and misuse, so that we are very distrustful of them, yet there is a word that has retained all vigor and freshness that it had when it was first spoken. I refer to the word of God. God’s word is life- giving; it is more powerful than any double edge sword. It has the power to change a sinner like St. Augustine of Hippo into a great saint and champion of the Church.
God’ word comes to us in many different ways. We hear it in Church during the Liturgy of the Word every Sunday. It is made real for us in the lives of the good Christians we may happen to meet. It is always at hand in the bible which we should always read and meditate on daily.
In today’ first reading, the prophet Isaiah tells us that as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the so is the word that comes from the mouth of God, “It shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which l purpose and succeed in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). God’s will is that all men be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth (1Timothy 2:4). His word will not remain barren. Like the seed that is planted in good soil it will bring forth good fruit.
The Word of God first encountered man in the persons of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses and the prophets of Israel. His word was not spoken in vain to them but many members of the chosen people turned deaf ear to God and went their own way of destruction. To affirm the fact that God’ word is for all time and that it fulfills the purpose for which God sends it, He sent His only Son, the incarnate Word of God. Thus Jesus is the definitive Word of God that was spoken once and for all time. “Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he spoke to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds (Hebrews 1:1-2). Today, he makes his voice heard in and through his Church.
The first reading provides an Old Testament basis for the parable of the sower in the Gospel reading. Jesus presents to us a graphic picture of the Word of God and its efficacy. Someone described a parable as an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. The parable of the sower says something very personal to each and every one of us. It touches on the central core of my personality and the way I live out my religious faith.
Unlike the words of men, the Word of God is living and powerful only in the life of those who believe. The truth of God must take root in the heart, be cultivated, and permitted to bear fruit. It is amazing to realise that three fourths of the seed did not bear fruit.
Jesus describes four different reactions to the Word namely refusal as found in those who refuse to hear the Word of God. Hopefully this does not apply to us here today because we hear the Word of God every day we gather. Secondly, the seed that fell on rocky grounds refer to those who are inconsistent and fickle; those who relish the Word of God as long as it does not make any demands on them. Thirdly, there are those who are distracted the moment they hear the Word of God; distracted by the cares and pleasures of this life. They represent the seed that fell among thorns.
The refusal, the inconsistencies and fickle mindedness and distractions that characterise the inability of those who failed to accept the Word of God has been addressed by St. Paul in the second reading. He assures us all that in spite of the many challenges we face in our desire and resolve to do the will of God, he says, “ I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us” (Romans 8:18). Do not allow your challenges dictate how you react to the Word of God; it is not worth it.
Finally, acceptance is shown in those who gave heed to the Word of God. “Other seeds feel on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” (Matthew 13:8). The reason for the difference in the harvest is that some of the soil is better or richer than other soil. Thus among those who receive the Word, some give a more wholehearted and generous response than others. The response to the approach of God varies from individual to individual. Ultimately, the reason for this lies in the wills of the persons concerned and in the working of God’s grace on those wills.
The adherence of Christians to the Word of God in the life and mission of the Church cannot be underestimated. In the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation (Dei Verbum), the Council Fathers did not mince words when they said “The obedience of faith (Rom. 16:26; cf. Rom. 1:5; 2 Cor. 10:5-6) must be given to God as he reveals himself. By faith, man freely commits his entire self to God, making “the full submission of his intellect and will to God who reveals and willingly assenting to the Revelation given by him…” (Dei Verbum no. 5).
In sum, Jesus did not use parables to confuse or condemn his listeners. Rather, he sought to excite their interest and arouse their curiosity. Parables give light to those with trusting, searching hearts. But to the unconcerned and unrepentant, darkness. Let us accept God’s word unreservedly into our hearts. In his explanation of the parable, Jesus tells his disciples that to them has been given the knowledge of the mysteries of the reign of God because they accepted Jesus and believed in him.
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