Homily for Friday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time

As we know, Jesus often used parables to teach the people about the life of faith and His mission in leading them to the Kingdom of Heaven. In them, he used metaphors to which the people could relate. And, as we see in today’s passage, He explained to His apostles the realities that the metaphors represented.

 

In explaining the Parable of the Sower, Jesus emphasizes the various types of soil on which the seed falls. The metaphor stands for how the people who hear the Word of God receive it. Some never accept the Word; others believe for a short time, but fall away because of criticism of their faith; others believe, but the Word is choked by worldly anxiety and the seduction of riches; others respond to the Word and produce fruit abundantly.

 

Let us pray that we may always be the fertile soil upon which the seed of God’s Word falls and that we will take that Word to heart and share it with others by our words, actions, and attitudes.+