Receptivity to God’s Word

HOMILY: Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 13:1-23

16 July 2023 

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez

“I’ve heard it said that people come into our lives

For a reason, bringing something we must learn

And we are led to those who help us most to grow

If we let them, and we help them in return

Well, I don’t know if I believe that’s true

But I know I’m who I am today because I knew you…” 

These are the lyrics to a song from one of my favourite musicals, Wicked. It is a beautiful song of friendship where two friends, Elphaba and Glinda, express to each other how they have been mutually changed by their friendship… “For Good”. Glinda begins by saying that while she doesn’t know if it is true that people come into our lives for a reason, “I know I am who I am today because I knew you.” Similarly, Elphaba tells Glinda that “whatever way our stories end, I know you have rewritten mine by being my friend.” Each one’s lives have been changed… “For Good”! 

Do we believe that people come into our life for a reason? Whether they’re our friends, classmates, workmates, they serve as bridges or linkages.  They help us connect with ourselves and others and in the process grow and mature. Even the toxic people whom we encounter, become instruments of learning some tough lessons in life. It seems that until we learn the lesson, the same kinds of negative personas will find their way into our realities.  Painful as it maybe, the truth is, in retrospect, every single one of these difficult individuals are helping us find our strengths and become the best versions of ourselves. 

The Parable of the Sower on this Sunday’s gospel passage has Jesus presenting to us the different ways by which we, as His followers, receive the Word of God in our hearts. The issue at hand is how receptive we are as represented by the different kinds of soil that receive the seed of the Word of God. Receptivity is defined as “the willingness to allow ourselves to receive from another, to be influenced by the other, perhaps even to be transformed.” Sadly, God’s Word can frequently fall on beaten tracks and it does not take root at all. At other times, God’s Word fall on barren rocks where it cannot grow lasting roots. At other times, God’s Word falls among thorns where it may take root but it does not bear fruit because the plant itself is choked. If lucky, it falls on good soil where it takes root and bears fruit. The amusing thing is that all four kinds of terrain are very much present in each one of us…within us. It all depends on what state of life we find ourselves in. (Depende sa panahon ng ating buhay.) If we truly want to be His disciples, it is important that we examine ourselves to discover the extent to which we are open to receive God’s Word in our lives. How receptive are we to God’s Word? 

Jesus is “makulit” (persistent) because He does not want to lose any one of us. In the gospel, Jesus really wants His audience to open their minds and hearts and be ready to listen. There are many of them who refused to listen to Jesus and rigidly bound themselves within the confines of the Mosaic Law. This is why Jesus says: “They look but do not see, listen but do not hear [nor] understand”. (Matthew 13:13) This happens, not because the parables (the teachings of Jesus) are difficult but because the hearers are not prepared to listen. What about us? (Tayo ba?) What laws do we bind ourselves to that prevent us from listening to Jesus? The laws of social media? The laws of our social construct? The laws of finance? The laws of romantic relationships? The laws at our workplace? Sometimes, the laws laid down within our family can hinder us from hearing the Word of God and letting it impact our lives for the better.

We are provided with many opportunities to take to heart the Word of God. We can listen and reflect on it at mass, in our study of God’s Word, in our spiritual readings and conversations, etc. However, it is not enough to simply hear it. There is one particular worship gesture that I like very much. We do this just before the recitation of the Gospel reading at mass. It is done pretty quickly and is often unnoticed. This is the brief tracing of the cross on our forehead, the lips and the heart. This is performed routinely, even mechanically sometimes and with no conscious effort at all but this act contains a richness of meaning and Biblical symbolism. There was even one musician who tried to put words and music to accompany the gesture to make it more meaningful for the faithful. It goes like this… “Fill our minds, that we may hear your wisdom, touch our lips, that we may speak your truth; hold our hearts, that we may always follow you; come now, O Word of God.” Similarly, before proclaiming the Gospel, the priest on his part prays these words silently: “Cleanse my heart and my lips, almighty God, that I may worthily proclaim your holy Gospel.”  When Rev. Edrylle proclaims the Gospel, he first asks for my blessing. I utter this prayer “May the Lord be in your heart and on your lips that you may proclaim the gospel worthily and well. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Such gestures and prayers have depth and a profoundness in them. They are an act of openness to the Word of God. They are not simply a performance of some random gestures. 

Why should we care to be receptive to God’s Word?  Because God’s Word has power — the power to build us up and also tear us down, to save us and convict us — all in the spirit of establishing His Kingdom of Heaven on earth. 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.  Listen to God’s Word deliberately and with the intention to live by it because it is a revelation of His love for us and His instructions on how we can be saved.   May we become rich and fertile soil that welcomes, receives, retains and brings to fruition God’s Word in our community.