As I looked over today’s readings, more specifically as I read the first reading, a drop of water fell on my hand.
I would’ve thought nothing of it had I been sitting on a park bench in the city, or had I been sitting by a pool somewhere where I could’ve been splashed. But I was sitting indoors, at a table. I immediately looked up and saw there was water dripping from the air conditioning vent on top of me.
Here I was, reading about rain from the heavens coming down, and suddenly a drop of water fell on me. Perhaps God is making a point? I thought. What is the point?
In God’s mind, nothing is ever a coincidence. There is always purpose, a reason, behind his actions. From the never-ending master work of creation to the gentle nudging each one of us feels in daily life, God is at work.
God is not sitting on a cloud in a galaxy far, far away, with nothing to do, where out of boredom he decides to do something in his creation. It’s quite the opposite. God is engaged, actively seeking us and guiding us.
Like rain and snow that come down from heaven and fall on all of creation equally, transforming what is parched and dead into life, so does God’s Word come down from heaven, falling on all creation, transforming our parched hearts into hearts that are alive.
God, through the prophet Isaiah, states that His Word will not return to Him void, but will achieve the end for which it was sent. Rain and snow return to the heavens after having moistened the earth and given it life, they return through the process of evaporation and condensation that we all learned when we were in third grade. They return to the clouds after always having fulfilled their mission. If rain and snow always fulfill their purpose, how much more will God’s Word fulfill its purpose when it descends into our hearts!
Consider the sower of the parable: he sows freely, sowing quality seed without any cost and without discriminating according to the type of soil. The seed is spread far and wide, on good soil and bad soil, on the path and among thorns.
The seed the sower sows is excellent seed, ready to grow. The success of the seed does not depend on the sower, it depends entirely on preparedness of the ground. The rocky ground cannot blame the sower for planting bad seed, the rocky ground can only blame itself for not being well prepared.
God gives us only good things, just like the sower only sows good seed. Our infinitely good God cannot sow defective or evil seed in our lives. God freely showers us with his grace, which is a love freely given, a love offered without the expectation of something in return.
He sows his Word in those who receive it well, and in those who don’t.
He offers salvation to those who will respond, and to those who will turn away.
It is up to each one of us to take care of the good seed God has planted in our souls. This seed is present in every single human being, it is present in you. What do you do to keep the soil of your soul rich? What do you do daily, so that the seed God has planted may bear fruit and yield a hundred or sixty or thirty-fold? Remember, the seed is good; it all depends on how we take care of the soil where it’s planted.
So returning to my initial story: the drop of water that fell right on my hand. What did that mean?
It was a tangible reminder for me of the daily grace that God freely showers upon us. It was a reminder of the mercy and salvation he so desperately offers us.
He offers them in the most unexpected ways (as unexpected as a drop of water coming down on me while sitting indoors) and He does it for a reason (the drop of water inspired my homily today).
We pray to Our Merciful Father today that as His spirit comes down upon us, showering us all with his mercy and grace, his action in our souls during this Mass may not return to him void. May His Word and the Flesh of His Son, transform us, refresh us and give us new life.
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