Friday
of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
(Jeremiah 3:14-17; Matthew 13:18-23)
In a television drama, a detective is
asked if he believes in God. He answers
that he used to and hints that he lost his faith when his wife was killed in a
hit and run accident. The vignette
demonstrates what Jesus means in the gospel by saying that some seed falls on
rocky ground.
No one’s life is always easy. Everyone suffers setbacks and experiences
limits. Yet everyone as well is beckoned
to respond in faith to God’s loving initiatives. He gives life and, more significantly, sends
men and women to preach of His mercy. Rebelliousness
and outrage hinder a positive response.
These obstacles comprise the rocky ground of the parable. Still it is not necessary to lose faith. Jesus is urging his listeners to soften the
ground of their lives by breaking up clods of anger. Recalling the many good people and wonderful experiences
for which we did nothing to merit helps in this endeavor. As countless suffering people have testified,
God is more generous than anyone deserves.
We live in an age of disbelief. Statistics may say that a majority still
believes in God, but the idea-makers are predominately agnostic and the faith
of many is tenuous. Now more than ever perhaps it is our responsibility as
believers to testify to our faith. We
can tell others how when we pray, good things happen. At the very least, prayer enables us to cope
with misfortune without cursing or self-pity.
