The Challenge of the Seed of God’s Word Sown in our Hearts

Homily: Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

Matthew 13:1-9 (Matthew 13:1-23)

12 July 2020

Last Friday the IATF allowed motorcycle backriding for couples living in one household. It was subsequently announced that they should be able to present, upon inspection, evidence of their status such as a photocopy of their marriage certificate. Soon after a meme was posted on social media of a couple on a motorcycle, on the front of which they had mounted a large picture frame with their wedding photo. It was captioned “Proof ba kamo?”. (Want proof?) What is it with the world these days? There was a time when a mere declaration from the couple would have sufficed. There was no need for proof or assurances. Back then, you could trust someone’s word because it was the sum of their character. 

I’ve been taught that keeping one’s word is very important. This has a lot of bearing on one’s person. An upright person is praiseworthy and considered a good example for others. On the other hand, a dishonest person must be avoided and dismissed as a fraud. It is expected of anyone, at all times, to do everything in their capacity to preserve and uphold their personal integrity. We especially hold this standard against people of influence who continually crave the respect of their constituents. Would you believe a capricious person or someone who turns his or her back on their own word? Clearly, this is something of value but truthfulness and accountability to one’s word has become a rarity today. 

In today’s gospel Jesus uses the parable of a sower and seeds as an allusion to the word of God that is sown in the hearts of humankind. The word of God is consistent and trustworthy. Scripture tells us that when God enters into a covenant with His chosen people, He always keeps His word and remains faithful. God persisted in loving them despite their infidelity. In the Bible, God is sometimes likened to a man who stands by his wife even though she has strayed. Being a faithful covenantal partner, God has never reneged on His promises to His beloved. God remains merciful, abounding in goodness and steadfast in His love towards His people.

Far different from the Word of God, are the words we utter. They are often rash, tentative and unreliable. In everyday speech, we often find ourselves using words carelessly. We do not seem to mean what we want to say. In fact, it is so common to hear the word “like” in the English vernacular, to approximate what we can not or do not want to express. We have the Filipino equivalent for this… ‘parang’. Can we just say… “It was an unjust decision.”? Do we have to say… “It was, like, an unjust decision.”? Perhaps it is this hesitance to take a stand that renders our words ambiguous and lacking in credibility. 

What’s most funny to me is that despite this, people are adamant on making themselves heard! Before, one had to aspire to be published for their convictions to be widely acknowledged. Now we have Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, vlogs and blogs as platforms for people to shout out to the world what they have to say. With so many people “speaking” without regard for the quality or the veracity of their words, the internet becomes like a marketplace where people struggle to speak louder and above everyone else. Oftentimes they resort to verbosity, using big words and flowery language to appear smarter or convincing. To the listener, however, this inundation of words simply confuses and irritates. Word wars don’t help. We just don’t know what to believe or who speaks the truth.

Jesus, ought to be our model of truth because He is the Word of God in the flesh. In the beginning of his gospel, John references Jesus by saying “In the beginning there was the WORD…” (John 1:1) When we are cruel with our speech and unkind with our words, we go against what it is to be Christian. Very recently I saw this humble appeal posted on the FB walls of many of my friends: “Whenever you find a person infected with Covid 19 in your neighbourhood and going for quarantine, isolation or to the hospital, please do not take a video or photograph and make him/her feel shameful or guilty. Instead stand in your balcony or window or terrace and wish that person ‘good luck’ and a ‘speedy recovery’. This disease can be cured by each other’s help and not by humiliation.” How I wish that our words were used more frequently for the good— to encourage, appreciate and build others up instead of uttering insults, maligning others and tearing them down. 

God’s word will not fail. In the short reading from the Prophet Isaiah, God declares: “My word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11) It is like the rain and snow that accomplishes their purpose. This is so because His word is powerful! God’s word is a call to action, bringing people together and leading them toward the fulfillment of their most cherished hopes. Louis Bouyer says: “God’s word is an act, a truly creative act.” God’s word does not only create but also fulfills, sustains and saves a broken humanity into wholeness. Ultimately, the final word of God is Jesus Christ Himself on whom all of God’s promises find their fulfillment. As St. Paul claims: For Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not waver between “Yes” and “No… as God’s ultimate “Yes,” he always does what he says. For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.” (2 Corinthians 1:19-20) There is finality in the Word of God in Jesus Christ! No other words will be spoken by God to people except in Jesus Christ. He is the summit of God’s revelatory act to humanity. 

Nowadays, many of us still value a person’s integrity. We demand that our leaders be honest, trustworthy and reliable. We want to get rid of the graft and corruption that is preventing our country from achieving our goals for prosperity. And yet we contribute to the persistence of this culture of duplicity. We never seem to run out of reasons to justify our deficiencies and the inefficiencies that beset our society. We have become skilled at making excuses if it means saving ourselves and getting what we want. As Frank J. Matera claims: “Integrity is always in short supply, and most people find ways to compromise what they believe without calling their dissimulation a lie.” Jesus challenges us in the Gospel: “Whoever has ears ought to hear.” (Matthew 13:9)

Brothers and sisters, every Sunday, the Word of God is sown in our hearts. Let it take root and cultivate within us a greater resolve to remain honourable—even when everything else in our midst is not so. Our Father is the fullness of truth and integrity and the perfect model of fidelity to His promises. Ultimately when the pursuit gets frustrating, when the words that flood our ears are more deceitful, be reminded that there will always be a consistent bastion of truth in God. We only need to cover our ears and attune ourselves to hear and be guided by the Word of God in our hearts.