Homily of Bishop Paolo for the XV Sunday of Ordinary Time 2023

July 16, 2023

Abu Dhabi.

Below is the full text of the homily delivered by Bishop Paolo Martinelli for the XV Sunday in Ordinary Time at St. Joseph's Cathedral Abu Dhabi.

The theme of today's liturgy concerns the importance of the word of God in our Christian life. On the one hand, Isaiah's prophecy describes God's intervention that changes human history through his effective word. The word of God is always concrete and practical. On the other hand, the Gospel reminds us that this word of God is not enough to be proclaimed. In fact, it must also be accepted to bear fruit in abundance in our hearts.

It can help us to discover the meaning of the sacred scriptures we have heard if we remember that in the ancient Hebrew language, the expression "word" always indicates something that takes place: "word" and "event" coincide in biblical language. God's word is not only pronounced but makes what he says happen. All of this becomes even more evident if we look at Jesus himself: he is the word of God made flesh. He became a man like us and realized the kingdom of God in himself.

The words of the prophet Isaiah, which announce to us how the word of God descends to earth and returns to heaven only after having done what it was sent to do, was fulfilled precisely in Jesus: he is the word of God descended from heaven and that returned to the heavenly father only after completing his mission as the saviour of the universe. All this assures us of the efficacy of the word of God and every gift of God.

The Gospel, however, reminds us that for this word of God to bear fruit in us, it needs to find the proper welcome. Here is the meaning of the parable that Jesus tells and explains in detail to his disciples. The seed sown is God's word, the kingdom's word. But this word cannot bear fruit if it does not find a willing heart in us.

Jesus' examples are very clear: the road along which the seed falls without bearing fruit (the edge of the path) is the image of a person who does not listen to the word, drops it, and neglects it. The stones among which the seed falls represent the man who welcomes the word, but this has no space for the roots to grow, there is no good soil. The brambles and thorns among which the seed of the word falls are the images of those who listen to the word but let themselves be caught up in life's many worries and forget the only thing necessary. In all these examples, the word of God is proclaimed but not truly accepted, so the seed does not bear fruit. Jesus' parable concludes by speaking of good soil, where the seed falls and bears fruit to varying degrees according to each one's ability. This is the man who welcomes the word and understands it.

Dear brothers and sisters, I think these Gospel words are addressed to us. Sometimes we, too, listen to the word of God, but we are distracted or do not give them the proper importance. So here is the question: how can we transform our hearts, our stony soil, into good soil that can welcome the word of God and bear fruit?

Here are some suggestions. First, I suggest you always have a bible in your home or in your room. Put it in a nice, prominent place. You can place a candle or a crucifix next to the bible to remind us that the word of God is not just written: the word of God is Jesus himself, who gives his life for us.

I would also like to repeat the advice that Pope Francis has given many times: I invite you to always have a Bible with you, especially the Gospels, to keep in your purse or pocket. Stop every now and then and read a page of the Gospel for a few minutes and try to repeat in your heart a phrase that you feel helps you to face your days.

Furthermore, I invite you, in particular, to meditate from time to time on the readings proclaimed during Holy Mass, especially on Sundays. In this way, you will experience the Eucharistic celebration even more intensely. I invite you to meditate on the word of God alone, as a family, or in groups. We must always read the bible with faith and together with the church because it is not the word of men but of God, and it must be read with the same Spirit that inspired the sacred authors to write it.

Finally, I recommend that you cultivate silence in your heart. We must be silent to welcome the word of God and make it fruitful in us. Without silence, we cannot receive the word of God.

Our words must be silent for the Word of God to grow in us. Our societies are often noisy. Please, learn to find a few minutes of silence in our days to pray to God and listen to his word, for example, by visiting a church. In this way, we too will be like that man who yields a harvest and produces in hundredfold, or sixty, or thirty.

[Finally, I thank those who have made themselves available to the service of the Lectors and on whom I will shortly invoke the blessing of the Most Holy Trinity so that they may live this important ecclesial ministry with dedication. In this way, you give your voice to the Lord: your human voice is made available to the divine word. Through your service as readers, you remind all the faithful to be heralds of the word of God to everyone. May the Lord give you peace and blessing].