Today’s Sermon in a Nutshell:
The parable of the Sower is about evangelism and the importance of “sowing the seeds” of Christ’s gospel. Thus, we are reminded that our Church is apostolic and every practicing Christian has the sacred obligation and duty to share, spread, and grow the Word of God so that it bears fruit. Sadly, however, many find this to be an uneasy task; afraid to share steadfast truths amidst an ever-widening sea of political correctness and the oppressive waves of moral ambiguity. They are intimidated by the thought of not knowing what to say or how to say it, terrified of looking foolish, and worse yet, fearful of offending someone.
When God called upon Ezekiel to be His prophet, He said, “Listen closely, and take to heart every word I say to you. Then go to the people and proclaim my word, whether they listen or not.” (Ezekiel 3:10-11)
Therefore, our mission is no greater or lesser than Ezekiel’s: we are simply called upon to take God’s Word to heart and then share it with others as truthfully, honestly, and respectfully as we can. And one need not worry about whether you will succeed or fail, because that is a matter between God and those with whom you’ve shared His Word. If God so chooses to bless your efforts, that’s great, but your obligation to share the Faith comes with no guarantees. In other words, God doesn’t call upon us to be successful, He only expects you to be faithful.
Fr. John
