God who sows His words everywhere

 

God who sows His words everywhere.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Wednesday of 16th Week in Ordinary Time 1 and the Memorial of Joachim and Anne, July 26th, 2023
Texts: Exodus 16:1-5. 9-15; Psalm 78:18-19.23-28; Matthew 13:1-9 

Today’s gospel reading reveals a gracious God who sows His words everywhere. This is clear in the parable of the sower who scatters his seeds everywhere, not minding the soil. He scatters the seeds on the road, on rocky ground, in thorns and on good soil. He knows the soil on which he casts the seeds and yet does cast the seed on them. God sows His words everywhere irrespective of our attitudes or what our response will be. In the prophetic word of Ezekiel: “You shall speak my words to them, whether they hear or refuse to hear; for they are a rebellious house” (2:7). 

We see in today’s first reading how God continued to show Himself to His people in spite of their unfaithfulness. He is truly gracious. Today’s Psalm reads, “In their heart they put God to the test by demanding the food they craved. They spoke against God and said: Can God spread a table in the wilderness? Yet he commanded the clouds above, And opened the gates of heaven! He rained down manna to eat, and gave them bread from heaven.” God will not refuse to speak to us because of our unyielding attitude to His words.  

God created us by His word and preserves us by the same word

God is gracious with His word because His word is spirit and life. He created us by His word and preserves us by the same word. The author of letter to the Hebrews writes, “He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word” (1:3). There will be no life in us without the word of God.  

The word of God is also our light. The psalm says, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my pathway.” The word of God is also the truth. The word of God makes us true and authentic. There is no life in us without the word of God. We will be walking in darkness without God’s word. We will all be false and lies without God’s word.  

Joachim and Anne whose memorial is today kept God’s word and were blessed and honoured be God. They gave birth to the mother of our Saviour. Let us  keep the word of God in our hearts and be blessed and honoured in His presence.  

Prayer 

O Lord, God of our Fathers, who bestowed on Saints Joachim and Anne this grace, that of them should be born the Mother of your incarnate Son, grant, through the prayers of both, that we may attain the salvation you have promised to your people. Amen  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke