Walking with Jesus: 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time A

For Sunday, July 12, 2026

Isaiah 55:10-11, Romans 8:18-23, Matthew 13:1-23


Today’s readings take us along a different path, but one in which we are very much familiar: We live in a world that is all around us. We learn about this world as we grow and become aware of the intricacies, amazing beauty and delicateness that God has given us as a gift. This gift tells us about God: Do we listen? Are we aware that this is a gift? Do we realize that this gift — like all of God’s gifts — is a prized possession and we are to use it to show others God’s care and love? Use, not abuse: Using shows gratitude; abuse shows our selfishness and dishonor for God’s love and care.

The short reading in Isaiah is really an extended metaphor; the workings of the natural world become the vehicle for showing us something about the word of God. All was created at “God’s word,” showing the integrity of His creation. Isaiah takes one aspect we don’t think on — precipitation, in the form of rain and snow — and the cycles they take. The rains and snows water the earth, making it fertile — the earth absorbs them. Water is an instrument of growth providing nourishment and beauty, symbolizing God’s purpose: His love and help. Continuing the analogy, without water the earth would not be fertile. Without the “fruit” it brings, humans would have no food to eat. The order God provides is reliable — an order we can trust. Humans are totally dependent on the fertility of the natural world and the laws that govern it.

We return to Genesis and its summarizing reflection: “God looked at everything He had made, and found it very good. Evening came and morning followed — the seventh day.” [Genesis 1:31] Remember the cause and effect: God speaks (the word of God), and what He says is accomplished. God’s word is absolutely consistent and reliable, and we are totally dependent on it. How can we say God doesn’t care about us; about me? Is it God that fails, who doesn’t care and abuses? Or, are humans disguised as villains and know-it-alls? An old saying comes to mind that I learned long ago: Everything God touches is beautiful; it’s what humans touch that can corrupt and make ’em ugly. The prophets taught the people to trust that if they received God’s word with openness and responded to it, it was just like the land receiving and responding to the rain. Lives will flourish in due season.

Paul takes this ideal to the spiritual realm in presenting the Christian vision of the future (eschatology). He sees God’s goodness and care ever-present, even amid people’s daily struggles. This induces hope and comfort — knowing that even in their struggles, their hope is with God in Jesus. They will be transformed, each person participating in Christ’s own, resurrected life. Jesus promised this for all of God’s creation, so we can expect that our full, total selves — our bodies and souls — will be redeemed and transformed into what Jesus referred to as a new creation that God has planned for all eternity and will bring about. For some reason we just keep returning to the evils of Satan who says God doesn’t care. “Eat the fruit,” he says, “this will make you ‘like God.’”

For ages I could never understand the gospel. I’m fundamentally a city boy; I had very little experience with flower gardens and none with a vegetable one. But why, I thought, would a farmer plant seed on rocky areas? Nothing would grow, I thought. Often in my travels to the Holy Land, as we left Jerusalem and traveled east toward the Jordan River and the Dead Sea, I saw farmers walking along the hilly land, balancing a bag of seed over one shoulder and scattering its contents over every piece of land. They knew that somewhere the seed would “take” and possibly grow — some parts would be fertile for crops; on others the sheep and goats would find grass to nibble for their food — God’s care! The parable in Matthew’s gospel, also found in the three synoptics (Matthew, Mark and Luke), defines the Word of God as a persuasive encouragement for every Christian, believer and follower of Jesus. The appropriate response is gratitude for God’s gifts; taking and living Jesus’ words, life and teachings on love; and contributing to the good of the world. These attributes are equally life-giving to all of God’s creation ... farmers ... tillers ... sharers of God’s love, patience, kindness, healing and forgiveness.

So, what kind of soil am I on? Am I receptive to the word of God? Am I a sharer? A doubter? A non-believer? The readings show us God!

So I reflect on:

• Jesus was sent by God the Father to tell of God’s love and grant us forgiveness for our sins forever by His death and resurrection. This is God’s plan. Does this change my understanding of God’s love creation, for humanity and for me? Shouldn’t I be responsive daily and more?

Sacred Space 2026 states:

“Lord, the message You shared with the crowd who assembled today reinforces the idea that much of the work that many of us attempt to do each day yields very little of value. I pray that I may not shy away from attempting some work or other on Your behalf just because it is not guaranteed a one hundred percent success rate.”