July 10, 2011 - 15th Sun of OT - We don’t have to succeed but we’re called to try ...

Readings - http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/071011.cfm

This Sunday, in the heart of Ordinary Time, we begin a three week period in which we hear for the Gospel Reading a number of very well known parables.  And so, today, we start with one of the most famous ones, the Parable of the Sower and the Seed.

Pretty much all of us know this parable and know it quite well.  Yet each time we hear it, we hear it in a different way.

We hear it today in the midst of our summer and perhaps we can see it then _as an invitation_ to reflect on it comfortably, indeed happily and _with ease_ as we sip our iced-teas (or Long Island iced teas) wondering what Jesus is telling us in the midst of all those seeds.

Let me offer some thoughts:

First, Jesus seems to be telling us that he (and therefore God) _knows_ that _only some of the seed is going to fall on good ground_.  He says that some seed is going to fall on the path, some on rocky soil, and some among thorns and finally only some seed is going to fall on good soil.

But in fulfillment of that beautiful first reading from Isaiah, it would seem that Jesus (and therefore God) is counting on the seed that falls on good ground to more than make-up for the rest (yielding 10, 30 and a 100 fold) so that “not a single drop of water that falls down from heaven would return to it without having fulfilled its purpose.”

So there’s both _a lot_ of responsibility placed on the seed that falls on good ground, and actually a certain amount of _acceptance/forgiveness_ extended to the seed that “doesn’t make it.”

Most of us probably fall in “mixed ground.”  There are aspects of it that is probably pretty good.  But there are certainly rocks and thorns present to most of us as well.

Will we make it?  Will we yield 10, 30, 100 fold?  This could be a rather scary question, especially if we realize that the ground on which we have fallen is probably rather mixed.

What the first Reading and the Gospel Reading assure us, however, is that God’s will, God's plan _will be fulfilled regardless_, and _our task_ is simply to seek to grow and _try_ to produce fruit.  Whether we succeed or not _is up to God_ and where we happened to fall.  But _all of us_ have the ability to try.

So, "whoever has ears, ought to hear" ;-).  And have a nice week ;-)