Fifteenth Sunday –A 10^th July 2011

Isaiah 55: 10-11 Ps 65 Romans 8:18-23 Matthew 13: 1-9

1.  If you were to visit Midland, Ontario at this time of the year, and if you to visit the Shrine dedicated to the Canadian Martyrs, you would be delighted to see the wonderful flower gardens all over. Of course they do compare with the Buchart Gardens in Victoria BC, but Greg Piitz and his team have done a magnificent job. They spend over $10,000 in seeds and plants.

• they dig the soil
• they remove decayed plants of last year.
• They find fertile soil
• They plant fresh seed
• They water and watch them grow.

It has all to do with nature and growth and the circle of life. You will have heard all these phrases in our readings today.

2.  Let us start with Paul in his letter to the Romans. Paul has his own vision of Creation.  Creation owes its origin to God. Consequently it is beautiful, in harmony, in beautiful array. However, Paul tells us that some one has subjected Creation. Scriptures scholars are in debate as to who this someone may be.

Some scholars say that God has subjected creation with a hope of redemption.

Other scholars say that Creation is subjected due to Adam’s sin of disobedience. We all remember the story from Genesis. Adam was subjected to till the earth in the sweat of his brow. He would do this in the midst of thorns and thistles. As a result:

• Creation is subject to decay
• Creation groans in labour pains.

3.  Paul does not see Creation through rose-tinted glasses. Paul sees Creation in reality. We too should do the same. In the last few years we have seen Earthquakes in Haiti, New Zealand, Japan causing swathes of destructions. We have seen what Tsunamis have done to Indonesia, Sri Lanka and this year to Japan.  Prophets of doom are quick to predict that these are the signs of the final Apocalypse, the Armageddon when the whole of creation is brought to judgment. But Paul would see this as a part of the circle of life. The decaying and the groaning in labour pains are the sufferings and death that must precede the Resurrection. This is Christ’s redemptive act through obedience. After the Resurrection will come Pentecost and the gifts of the Holy Spirit. This is the hope and dawning of the new age promised by Jesus. Until then we walk in the valley of tears.

4.  The reading from Isaiah is another picture from nature. It is taken from what Scripture Scholars call the Book of Consolation in the Prophet Isaiah. We are more familiar with the first verses of this Scriptural Passage. We read it at the Easter Vigil: Come to the table of plenty. Eat and drink without money and without cost.

In the later part of the same chapter with a picture of nature. However, the natural order is used as a visual aid to tell us something about the supernatural.  Isaiah gives us a picture of luxuriant nature where rain and snow fall to produce the effect for which they are sent. The earth produces fruit. From the natural order, Isaiah elevates us to the Supernatural order: The Word of God goes out and will also produce fruit. This gives us hope and consolation because

• God has given us His Word
• God does not forget his promise
• God does not renege on his Promises
• God is all-powerful and can fulfil his promises.

5.  Paul does not see creation through rose coloured glasses. But in the Gospel Jesus seems to look at planting and reaping through rose-coloured glasses.  Jesus seems to have a glorious vision of the Sower and the seed. Jesus speaks of a harvest that is 100 fold, 60 fold and 30 fold.

I used to work in a parish in farm country: Chepstow and Cargill in the Grey Bruce Peninsula. When I spoke to the farmers of this parable and the yield: 100 fold, 60 fold and 30 fold. They told me that this was unrealistic. The harvest from the grain they planted was about 7-8% and if they had a yield of 10% they had a bumper harvest. It was money in the bank.

However Jesus is speaking of a harvest of the Kingdom of God. Here everyone is included, every one is invited. It is the Will of the Lord of the Harvest that every one should be saved. Hence the actual picture of our Sower and the seed will only go a small distance in this parable. In the circle of life in the Kingdom of God, there is suffering and the cross but the certainty of eternal life. This is given to us by the Cross and Resurrection of Jesus. The Gift of Eternal life is always there. It is our choice to accept or reject this gift.