Fri of 16th Week in OT Homily

1st Reading: Jer 3:14-17

Responsorial Psalm: Jer 31:10-13

Gospel: Mt 13:18-23

Deacon Gary and all the hands that have assisted in working inside of our parish garden have brought about a lot of fresh produce. If you are to walk around the garden your eyes would quickly be drawn to the tomatoes which seem to have had no problem in growing. Through planting the seed it seems like they picked the perfect type of soil because things have really taken off. If the choice for land was any different the results may of been far different then what we have currently received. Our Gospel today gives us the much needed challenge to look inwardly and thus evaluate what we have built our faith upon.

In this Gospel we were given images of different possibilities when it comes to planting seed. In planting one has to put a lot of thought into what they are doing or their results will not go according to their original desires. For people of faith we also have many possibilities that have been given to us concerning the path that we will follow. We teach concerning virtues and vices and admit that each effects our growth of faith. When one commits a certain sin over and over they are allowing themselves to be exposed to vice. On the other hand when one does something that forms their habits to be directed towards God they are building up the strength that is found inside the virtues.

May we invest the time that is needed in our lives to allow virtue to spring up within our lives. If we find ourselves to be following the path of vice may we invest the time needed to pull ourselves away from these deadly habits. No matter where we find ourselves today may we trust as the prophet Jeremiah did by returning ourselves to God. It can only be through allowing our faith to be built upon God that we can ever hope to leave our vices behind and thus allow our hearts and souls to find the soil that is needed to spring us forth into new life. Only in doing this will we allow ourselves to be guarded by Christ our Shepherd as we draw closer to Him.