St. Mary's Catholic Church of Tomahawk, WI

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

We are on the fifteenth ordinary Sunday of year A. In the first reading we hear of the effectiveness of God’s word. Prophet Isaiah compares the word of God to rain and snow that is life-giving. In this way, nature reveals a spiritual truth: the life-giving nature of God’s word. God’s word is also of divine origin, effective and faithful. What role, place and significance does God’s word play in our lives?

The second reading unpacks the meaning of suffering for Christians. Instead of evading suffering, we are called to enter into the paschal mystery through our baptism. In baptism we die to self and rise in Christ. At the same time, we are called to live out this salvific reality in every aspect of our lives.

In the Gospel we hear the parable of the sower and the seed. Our Lord presents in the parable the sower whose seeds meet with diverse endings. Lord Jesus places the reception of the word of the kingdom beside the workings of creation to reveal truths about the kingdom of God. He interprets that the sower is God and the seed is His word and the places are our hearts. Those who reject the good news suffer death for doing so and those who are receptive will effectively bear fruit. Do our lives and actions reflect God’s Word?

Fr. Aloysius Royan Anthony