It is amazing to think about how rapidly the population of the world has grown. In 1804, the population of the world reached 1 billion people for the first time in history. In 1927, the population reached 2 billion. Today, the population of world is approximately 8.3 billion people. Both China and India each have more than 1.4 billion people. Food is one issue countries have faced with this growing population. In the 1960s, agronomists knew this challenge was coming. One agronomist from the United States went to India with a newly developed wheat seed. He convinced the Indian authorities to try this new seed. They planted this new strain of wheat in the Punjab region of India; the results were amazing. They later introduced a new variety of rice. These new seeds enabled India and other Asian countries to avert famine. Today, with its huge population, India produces a food surplus and has become a major rice exporter. This story illustrates the power of a seed, how it can change the world. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us about power of the word of God using the parable of the sower who sows seeds in different types of ground.
For 3 weeks in a row, Jesus will speak in parables from Matthew’s Gospel. Jesus used parables to help the people better understand the Kingdom of God. As we hear about the sower who sows some seed that dies, while other seeds take root and produce fruit, we can think about how God’s word taking root in our lives and the ways we sow the seeds of God’s kingdom. Like a farmer who faces floods, drought, or other kinds of disasters, as disciples, we are called to plant seeds of hope and faith through our evangelization efforts, to sow the best seeds available to us. Just as the farmer uses the sun, wind, and rain to produce a good harvest, we are to use the reality of God’s creation around us to sow and plant. As the Son of God, Jesus works through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, providing the grace to nourish and sustain our faith. If we apply ourselves in our life of faith, if we use the resources around us, and if we give it our best effort, will we be able to truly grow as disciples ourselves and evangelize others.
Some years ago, evangelizer Sherry Waddell was the speaker at our Diocesan convocation. She is the author of a book entitled Forming Intentional Disciples. In her book, Waddell states that we make a big mistake in our parishes by assuming that all those who have been baptized and grow up Catholic are truly evangelized themselves. She asserts that many baptized Catholics who attend mass on a regular basis have not really been evangelized yet and do not know how to live productive spiritual lives. Yet, the challenges we have in our life of discipleship should not frustrate us or cause us to be cynical. We are to face our challenges with enthusiasm and hope, to be on fire for the Lord.
Jesus’ message was rejected in his hometown. He received opposition and hostility from the Jewish authorities. Many times, the synagogues refused Jesus entrance to preach, causing him to go out to preach to the people on the hillsides and the shore. Jesus’ parable today about the seeds that were sown in different types of soil attempted to encourage the apostles and give them hope. This parable assured them that his Good News would produce the intended affect in spite of the challenges and opposition. At the time Matthew was writing his Gospel, his Jewish-Christian community also experienced a lot of adversity, just as we modern disciples face many challenges as well.
Father Raju had been asking for me to come up and visit you here in Clarksdale and Shelby for a while now. In the midst of my busy schedule in the Jackson area, with my parish ministry and chancery work and prison ministry, I am glad I have the opportunity this weekend to visit all of you. I know that chancery office can feel so far away from here. But know that our hearts are with you in the challenges that we all face in our ministries. I was a teacher in Greenville for 4 years before I became a priest. And I was pastor in Yazoo City and Belzoni for 2 1/2 years, so I know the reality of the Delta, and I really enjoyed my time in the Delta. We all need to find hope and encouragement in our lives of faith, don’t we? I know that the Catholic community in the Delta has a lot of history and a lot of commitment to the faith. With the Catholic schools in Greenville and in Clarksdale, that tradition is being kept alive in Catholic education. Keeping our parishes alive in the Delta is important. So, it is great to be with you this weekend and to celebrate together around the altar of the Lord.
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