THE WORD OF GOD
The Word of God and the heart of men and women are co-relational in Christian life. This is because the amount and quality of the fruits our hearts bear depend on the level and depth of our integration with the Word of God in our hearts.
WHY THE READINGS
In a world where words and promises have no meaning more than lies, deceptions and emptiness. The readings of this Sunday assure us God always sows his Word in the heart of men and women. As well, there are trustworthiness and fulfilment in every spoken Word of God.
READINGS OF THIS SUNDAY
FIRST READING
Prophet Isaiah 55:10-11 spoke how powerful, effectual, and answering to all its great intentions the Word of God. There is a destined design of the spoken Word of God when it is spoken with pure intention and from none shady heart.
SECOND READING
Romans 8:18-23, Paul tells us that our sufferings here cannot be compared with the glory awaiting us. Especially, in our daily labouring to sow the Word of God. in order to grow and bear fruits in abundance in our lives.
THE GOSPEL OF THE DAY
Matthew 13:1-23, Jesus uses the parable of the sower and explains it.
THE SEEDS AND SOWER
1. Where the sower is God (and all preachers of the Word of God) who always sow equally the Word in the hearts of men and women.
2. The seed and the earth signify the Word of God sown equally, and the hearer´s heart with his or her disposition to the Sown or Spoken Word of God respectively.
THE HEARTS AND ITS DISPOSITION
3. The parable presents two sets of people and their relationship to the Word of God. It is also about the impact of the Word of God in their lives. That is the preachers of the Word (the sowers) and the hearers of the Word ( the dispositional earth or hearts).
4. Hence, on the hearers, there are four kinds of dispositional hearts to the Word of God.
THE PROUD CHRISTIAN
(a) There are the hearers with their minds and hearts shut to the Word of God. There are people with unteachable spirit. People whose lives are full of prejudices, pride, arrogance, or narrow-mindedness etc. to God´s purpose through his Word.
THE SUPERFICIAL CHRISTIAN
(b) There are the hearers with the minds or hearts like the shallow ground. They are people who fail to deepen their knowledge of the Word of God through conscious effort. They are very superficial, external, show-people with eye-services attitudes, and quick emotional enthusiasm with short-lived span. Hence, when there are difficulties and obstacles they back out of Christian commitment. For them, Christianity is emotionalism or externalism with no intelligent faith or responsibility.
THE DISTRACTED CHRISTIAN
(c) There are also the hearers whose minds and hearts are on so many interests in life. That often the most important things, get crowded or clouded out with earthly desires. These are the modern, digital and fast people who move with the current of the world on materialism, science, technology and information with no room for spiritual life.
THE SPIRIT-FILL CHRISTIAN
(d) There are Christians whose minds and hearts are like the good ground. They display four attitudes toward the Word of God. Their minds and hearts are open. They are at all times willing to learn. They are prepared to hear or listen to the Word of God. Likewise, they are never either too proud or too busy to listen. The end result of their disposition is the abundance of fruits and goodness in the Christian life.
THE PREACHER´S ATTITUDE
5. Finally, the impact of the Word of God on the preachers. Their attitude towards the reactions and reception of the hearers to whom they spoke Word of God. First, they must not adulterate or water down the Spoken Word or Truth of God for their own interests. Again, they must also be patient for God grace and mercy to act in the hearts of the hearers.
THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION
The most fundamental question we ask ourselves today is: what is the disposition of our hearts to the Spoken Word or Truth of God in the practice of our Christian life and faith?
OUR PRAYER OF THE WEEK
Lord Jesus Christ, You are Living and Eternal Word of God who took flesh and lives among us. Help us with your grace and mercy that may we not only be hearers or listeners of your Word, but our hearts be fertile and disposed ground for your Word to come alive, powerful, effectual and fulfilling to bearing abundant fruits in good works and make us doers of your word, will and purpose. Amen.
