Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) This Word came and dwelt among us. This Word still dwells in and among us. It is the very Word that knew us since the beginning of time. The Word who made us, knew us and had plans for us since before we were born. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you” (Jer. 1:5) As we come into being the seed of the Word that is our soul had already been planted. From the very beginning we were being called to love and serve the Lord and one another.
When we are called to service then, it seems ironic that we sometimes respond like Jeremiah in today’s first reading. “Why me Lord?” Or when tough things happen in our lives the same question arises; “Why me Lord?” Like Jeremiah we too, always have an answer; I am too young, or after I finish college, or God is punishing me for something I have done. All of these questions and answers are valid in that they come from our hearts, yet today’s readings give us one possible way to reframe the question. Instead, we ought to think of God’s response to Jeremiah. God gently says I hear you, but you need to rethink the way you respond to me. God says this is how to respond: “To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak.” (Jer. 1:7b)
In more brash and modern terms God is saying “When I say jump” I want your response to be “how high?” Or course it is seldom easy to respond with enthusiasm let alone obedience when we are being asked something difficult. However, today’s gospel may give us direction in how we could become more like that. Today’s parable describes the seed and the different soils in which it is planted and then describes how each seed will grow. If the sower is God, and the seed is the Word, then we are the soil. The burden then falls on us and how our hearts are ready to be the rich soil always prepared to bear fruit.
Reflect today on the state of openness of your heart. What tiling or fertilizing needs to be done in order that your heart be prepared? Afterwards, pray for the strength to allow your heart to be rich soil, where God’s Word continues to grow and bear abundant fruit.
-Michael Montgomery