Homily by Fr. Ihor Holovko on the Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost
October 21, 2023
Jesus Christ in today’s Gospel reading from Luke gives us a formula of sequences for the openness of our heart, similar to the good soil. Let our hearts be sincere, which means to be sincere with our conscience, honest, frank, and truthful with our neighbors and God.
“And as for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience.” (Luke 8:15)
This parable of the Sower is quite well-known to many. The Sower is the Lord; the grain is God’s word, teaching, Good News; examples about the earth are allegories about different people. The seed is sown equally — everyone hears God’s word, but not all perceive or receive it differently, just as the ground is plowed and watered or sometimes is not prepared for sowing.
One story tells that the young people mocked their poor, modestly dressed friend:
— “You’re a Christian,” they mocked themselves. — If God loves you, why doesn’t He care for you? Why not tell someone to give you a pair of shoes and some decent clothes?
These words struck the boy very much, but soon, with tears in his eyes, he answered:
— I think that’s exactly what He tells people to do, but they don’t listen to Him.
Probably, everyone who has read this comes to mind: why are these people thinking so heartlessly? Jesus Christ in today’s Gospel reading from Luke gives us a formula of sequences for the openness of our heart, similar to the good soil. Let our hearts be sincere, which means to be sincere with our conscience, honest, frank, and truthful with our neighbors and God. Let’s be kind, positive, gentle and look for the good in others. So, let us be responsive, sensitive to needs, and receptive to requests or invitations when we listen to God’s word or our neighbors. And then the grain that falls into good soil will grow, even despite patience, and will yield a hundredfold in our life.