15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Our hearts

Matthew 13:1-23 

It is stated in the first reading: "the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do." (Is. 55: 11)

Without doubt, God's words will not come back to him empty-handed.  His will will be carried out.

Apparently, the ones who would carry out God's word to completion are us as described in the parable.  But there is another key here: the heart.

The heart which is exposed to all kinds of situations and circumstances account for the the fruitfulness or barrenness of the word in their lives.  It is the heart that is ultimately ready or not to receive the word that makes make it fruitful or barren.  Let us analyze our hearts on how open we are to receive the word in our lives:

First, the hardened, close-minded heart

Nothing could be done with this kind of heart.  It is still beating but it seems dead.  But the point is that it's still beating.  We who possess this kind of heart should ask: if we're so closed-minded, why are we still alive?  What is there to live for?

Second, anxious heart

Sooner or later, this heart will stop beating.  It's so exposed to the stresses of this world.  It's so tied up to this world that it forgot to beat with God's beating heart.  If our hearts beat only for this world, what accounts for it beating?  Who and what makes it beat?  Know that it is only God who makes it beat; we just chose to jive with the world's affairs, and forget God's.

Third, the fruitful heart

This heart beats with life, zeal, and health.  Scientists have studied the dynamics of the two hearts that beat as one: "Two hearts really DO beat as one if you're in love: Scientists find couples' vital signs mimic each other."

What more if our hearts beat together and in-sync with God's beat?  What if the world's hearts beat as one?  Would there still be killings?  Would there still be poor?  Would neighborhood communities continue not to have compassion with one another?

Final point, notice the words of Isaiah: "The word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in what it was sent to do."

God's will will be fulfilled, but woe to those whose hearts do not beat as one with God.  Blessed are those who do otherwise.

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