A Homily for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time (A), 2008
Having just come back from two weeks of vacation, it was a bit difficult to jump right into preparing a homily for this weekend. I was especially tempted to just make a few passing comments when I saw this weekend’s gospel reading; Jesus explains the parable Himself. There is no way I can top Jesus, Himself, in explaining the parable of the sowing of the seeds — after all, He is the Master, and I am just a follower, a disciple. However, I know how much all of you love listening to my homilies, so I will not disappoint you.
Allow me to start with a small parable of my own. There once were two brothers, who were arguing about the wisdom of their father. The first brother said, “Father is very wise.” However, the second brother disagreed, saying, “Father is not so wise! We’re just as smart as he is. I’ll prove it to you.”
The next day the second brother captured a small bird in the woods by their home. He took it home, and said to his brother, “Let’s go find dad. I will show you that he isn’t so smart.” Finding their father in his study, the second brother cupped the tiny bird in his two hands and said to his father, “Father, I have a question for you, I hold a small bird in my hands. Tell me, is this bird dead or alive?”
If he said that the bird was dead, the boy would simply open his hands and show that the bird was alive. If his father answered that the bird was alive, he would crush it between his hands and reveal that the bird was dead. This would prove that his dad wasn’t so wise after all. The boys’ father considered the question for a moment and said, “My son…the answer is in your hands.” (This illustration is adapted from “Hot Illustrations,” copyright 2001, Youth Specialties, Inc.)
“In his wisdom, God created us with free will. He gives us the seed of a meaningful, fruitful, and truly happy life by offering us his friendship, but it’s up to us to plant the seed in good soil, and to keep the soil good. It’s up to us to choose each day to follow Christ’s voice in our hearts, not the lies of the devil, the sighs of our laziness, or the seductions of the world around us. Will our lives be meaningful, fruitful, and happy? The answer is in our hands” (From www.ePriest.com, 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, “Illustration: The Answer is in Your Hands”, July 13, 2008).
“It is necessary that each person freely accept the truth of the love of God. He is Love and Truth, and love as well as truth never impose themselves: They knock on the door of the heart and mind and, where they enter, bring peace and joy. This is the way God reigns; this is his plan of salvation” (Pope Benedict XVI, Homily for the Solemnity of Christ the King, November 25, 2006)
