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Sunday, July 13, 2008

15th Sunday Ordinary Time
Isaiah 55:10-11<br>Romans 8:18-23
Psalm 65<br>Matthew 13:1-23
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GROUNDS FOR<U>?</U>

"Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertileand fruitful, giving seed to him who sows and bread to him who eats, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but shall do My will, achieving the end for which I sent it." —Isaiah 55:10-11

Farmers periodically take samples of their ground to have them tested. If your spiritual ground was tested now, would you be:

  • an infertile footpath? (Mt 13:4)
  • infertile rocky ground? (Mt 13:5)
  • fertile but unfruitful ground overgrown with thorns? (Mt 13:7)
  • fertile, fruitful ground bearing a 30-fold harvest? (Mt 13:8)
  • fertile, fruitful ground bearing a 60-fold harvest? (Mt 13:8)
  • fertile, fruitful ground bearing a 100-fold harvest? (Mt 13:8)

When a farmer finds from testing that his soil is deficient, he does not ignore the fact but takes measures to improve the condition of his ground. This should also be true spiritually. If you are an infertile footpath or rocky ground, repent and go to Confession as soon as possible. If you are fertile but unfruitful, ask the Holy Spirit to convict you of your thorny compromise with the ways the of world (Jn 16:8). If you want to increase from a 30-fold harvest to 60-fold or 100-fold, you need community life and daily Bible study.

In good ground, you can grow almost anything worth growing. In bad ground, you can hardly grow anything. The condition of the ground is critical. Recognize the condition of your ground and improve it.

Prayer: Father, may every seed You plant in me grow fully.

Promise: "I consider the sufferings of the present to be as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed in us." —Rm 8:18

Praise: Praise You, risen Jesus! You are "the Way, and the Truth, and the Life" (Jn 14:6). Alleluia!

Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 4, 2008

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