Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

We have been reading passages from the writings of the prophets Hosea and Isaiah; today we turn to Jeremiah. Like that of the other prophets, this is not a success story. The only successful prophet was the fictitious Jonah, and he succeeds despite his best efforts!

Anyone who wants to be Christian should be prepared for failure. Can the cross mean anything else to anyone who looks hard at it?

Yes, we sing of its triumph – Lift High the Cross! – but we cannot ignore its earthly significance. Jesus triumphal approach to Jerusalem, which had been prepared for months if not years, and the near-riot as he entered the city -- ended in catastrophe, when he was dragged from the city a few days later, and crucified.

So when we hear today’s gospel we hear Jesus’ promise of success despite frustration, disappointment and failure: some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it.

Obviously farmers in those days did not have sciences, schools and technologies to develop better methods. After saving some of last year’s crop for this year’s sowing, they broadcast the seed on the ground, then plowed it under. A harvest of twenty-fold was considered abundant.

Jesus promises a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.

Saint John Duns Scotus explains the action of God this way. Ordinary human action will always have mixed results. It will be a blessing and a curse, coming as it does from sinful human beings. But when one acts with the Spirit of God, its blessings are manifold. They continue into eternity! The disciple might not live in this world long enough to see how fruitful her efforts were. But she should have faith nonetheless, because God has everything well in hand.

As the psalmist said:

Those who sow in tears will reap with cries of joy.

Those who go forth weeping, carrying sacks of seed,
Will return with cries of joy, carrying their bundled sheaves.

Friars Simon Sauer, Don Halpin and Juniper Cummings share their evening meal in the 

John Loftus Retreat House at Mount Saint Francis