Reflection on the Readings for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Scripture texts can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/071314.cfm

In this sower and seed parable, do we always have to be the dirt? Why do we always have to be the dirt? It's depressing. Who really thinks they've yielded a hundredfold of awesome religious results? My money is on nobody-that would look like pride. Probably the same with sixtyfold. Most of us think we'll be lucky to make thirtyfold because we figure we're still limping along at eight or ten, maybe twelve tops. 

There are many ways of looking at and understanding parables. 

First, let's look at the sower. It's not only bishops, priests , sisters, brothers, and missionaries that sow the seed of the word of God. 

Parents, grandparents, and people in charge of a child, anytime they speak about the love of God, whether formal deliberate instruction, or just by how we love and treat them, are sowing the seeds of the kingdom of God.

For many of us, we would do well to speak of God and the events of salvation more often than we do. It can be at work, with family, with friends, or in social settings. We often hold back for fear of sounding "preachy" or of sounding like a phoney. Most people that we know, know our faults. But if you preach from the heart and show a true relationship with God, you can overcome those faults and show those in your life that relationship with God is important. You are planting the seed.

When we sow the seed of faith in God, don't worry about results. Our responsibility as Christians is to sow the seed of faith with those in our life. The results of that sowing is up to God. As Mother Theresa of Calcutta once said, "God does not call us to be successful; he calls us to be faithful." We may or may not see results. Some seeds may remain dormant for years before they reach maturity and growth. It's between those hearing the word and with God. 

This parable talks about seeds, as well. We can relate to the seed, too. Like the seed, we "die" to ourselves in order to give life to others. Parents, in may ways, give up sleep, time, and personal pleasures to give their children good things and save for the future. Teachers in school in many ways, too, "die", when they give their "all" for the children they are charged with to give education.

When you respond to the word of God by being the "sower" and the "seed", you, like the "dirt" can produce "a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold." (Matthew 13:8)

Let us ask Jesus this day to enrich our understanding and increase our fervor. Let Jesus plant the seed in our hearts so we can produce manifold fruits in our live.

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Deacon Tom Tortorella is a guest blogger on FatherRosado.com.  He is a permanent Deacon for the Archdiocese of New York and is currently assigned  to St. Clare of Assisi Church in the Bronx, NY.  He was ordained by His Eminence, Timothy Cardinal Dolan on June 19th, 2010.

Scripture texts in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition© 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Washington, D.C. and are used by permission of the copyright owner. All Rights Reserved. No part of the New American Bible may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the copyright owner.