15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A 16th July 2023
Lectionary Readings:
Isaiah 55 v1-13; Psalm 65 v9-13; Romans 8 v1-11; Matthew 13 v1-9; 18-23
How can I live a ‘productive’ life?
Well, says Isaiah, start by turning back to God, give up your ‘crooked ways’ and ‘evil thoughts’ and you will find that ‘God will be merciful and forgive your sins’ (Isaiah 55 v7).
Then, ‘when you are set free, you will celebrate and travel home in peace’ (v12); safe in the knowledge that my invitation ‘Come to me and live’ (v3) is the truth, ‘because my words don’t return to me without doing everything I send them to do’(v11).
Well, says Paul, ‘The Holy Spirit will give you life that comes from Christ Jesus and will set you free from sin and death’ (Romans 8 v2).
God’s indwelling Spirit (v11b), will help you with your thinking and your actions (Ephesians 4 v23)
Well, says Jesus, (in Matthew’s gospel), ‘If you have ears, pay attention!’ (Matthew 13 v9).
Well says I. Okay, God has given me a brain and he expects me to use it! So I have, and what follows is my paraphrase of the second part of the set gospel reading.
Think, my beloved disciples, about the following learning points, as I tell you a story about a farmer (God) who casts his seed (his life saving, life enhancing word) everywhere (for all).
- Don’t be lazy, seek understanding of God’s word. (Matthew 13 v19)
- Don’t give up, train your character by cultivating the virtues of resilience and perseverance. (v20,21)
- Don’t live a life of confused priorities, by letting other people, or your own worries, distract you from focusing on God’s kingdom values. (v22)
- Let your tongue be guided by the Holy Spirit as you tell others about God’s love for them. (v23).
Then, you may find that you are indeed living a ‘productive’ life (v23) – by encouraging others to be reconciled with God. (see 2 Corinthians 5 v18).
Hymn writer, Daniel Iverson, invites us to pray for God’s indwelling Spirit.
(Singing the Faith 395).
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mould me, fill me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Bible quotations are taken from the Contemporary English Version.