Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Father Ed Vanorny
Homily from the Televised Mass, NewsCenter1
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 16, 2023

I have to say, I don’t know of anyone who doesn’t appreciate a good story, because a good story has a unique power of teaching us something about ourselves and about life. And, of course, we know that Jesus also knew about the power of a good story.

And so, while many of us are perhaps busy with growing, the growing that’s going on in our gardens or in our fields or in our pastures, Jesus tells us a story about planting seeds and also growing some weeds. Well, he also tells us about good soil and not so good soil and in the process Jesus paints some pictures for us that challenge us to be rich soil. To be that good ground where God can plant his seeds from which he can harvest the good things that he has in mind for us.

Now that image of our being good, rich soil is important because without our efforts at preparing the soil of our lives for the planting and growing of God’s seeds — which are the words and the actions of God — without our cooperation, those seeds that God plants, they will not be as productive as God wants.

And with that I have some questions. For instance: how much are we willing to invest in preparing the soil of our lives so that the planting of God’s Word can be productive? Or, to put it another way: are we willing to put more effort into being more fruitful in daily prayer, or maybe in practicing and sharing our faith, or in celebrating the sacraments? Or to use some of the words Jesus used: what are some of the rocks, what are some of those thorns that we need to remove from the way we live and practice our faith. All of these things that keep the soil of our faith from being truly fruitful for God’s work.

God has invested a lot in our lives, and nothing would make God happier than for us to get excited about enriching the soil of our faith lives for the panting of his sacred Word. As we celebrate this Mass, let us ask God to help us to be more obedient, more receptive toward His Word and to be more welcoming toward His action in our lives so that we can be that good ground, that rich soil, in which God can plan His seeds and from which He can receive a fruitful harvest.