This document is a sermon given by Fr. Joseph Jablonski that discusses the parable of the sower from the day's Gospel reading. Fr. Jablonski explains that the reading calls Christians to move out of their comfort zones and allow God's word to grow in their lives like seeds growing in soil, which involves discomfort. He encourages the congregation to do something different that day that encourages new life, rather than staying comfortable. The reading challenges Christians to grow deeply rooted in God, not just staying in a secure environment.

1. Rain. Dirt. Seeds. Birthing15th Sunday in Ordinary TimeBy. Fr. Joseph Jablonski, MSCThe Missionaries of the Sacred Heart  USA Province305 S. Lake Street, PO Box 270  Aurora, IL 60507 (630) 892-2371  info@misacor-usa.org

2. Today’sreadings seemto be prettyobviousespecially sinceJesus himselfexplains theparable.

3. So then, do we justsit back and thinkabout how plantsgrow? I don’t think so.

4. If anything,today’s readingsare trying to getus out of ourheads in order todo somethingreal in our lives.

5. If I just do ananalysis of whatkind of soil I amand then moveon with some goodintentions,probably nothingwill change in mylife.

6. Although we all agree that rain and snow aregood for the ground,

7. we usually we try to avoid them and stayindoors.

8. Getting wet is uncomfortable.

9. God’s wordis not tomake uscomfortableandcomplacent

10. but rather to stir up in us new life.

11. Dirt by its nature is messy, not bad, just like our lives.

12. Working to clear out impurities and weeds andgive nutrients and air to dirt make it good soil.

13. Words like:uprooting, sifting,moving around &displacing sound good for soilbut again,discomforting ifapplied to our lives.

14. Seeds have to be buried in the dark of thesoil and give-up everything to become onewith it in order to sprout new life.

15. Entering into the darkness of our lives andquietly waiting there to be one with God whoturns darkness into light and death into life isvery discomforting and scary.

16. Any mother will tellyou about givingbirth anddiscomfort.

17. Moving out of mycomfort zone to allowthe seed of God’sword to grow is thechallenge of today’sreadings.

19. Let’s try to DO somethingdifferent todaythat is not comforting butdoes encouragelife…new life.© mipan – Fotalia.com

20. We are called to bemore than a pottedplant in a secureenvironment.

21. We are called to grow in the wilds of lifebut deeply rooted in God.

22. Photo CreditsSlide 1: Fresh Grass, by PetrKratochvilvia PublicDomainPictures.netSlide 2: Hermanoleon ClipartSlide 3: Yucca Plant, by PetrKratochvil via PublicDomainPictures.netSlide 4: Socrates and Plato, via Wikimedia CommonsSlide 5: Soil, by ByMesaytsegaye (Own work) via Wikimedia CommonsSlide 6: Rain drops on Grass, by Michele Waltersvia PublicDomainPictures.netSlide 7: Rain On Window 2, by Mikaela Dunn, via PublicDomainPictures.netSlide 8: Animals Wet Dog, by Michele Walters, via PublicDomainPictures.netSlide 9: Cushions, by Shiftchangefrom Wikimedia CommonsSlide 10: Photo by Brother Joe Tesar, MSC, member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, United States ProvinceSlide 11: Soil Texture, by PetrKratochvilvia PublicDomainPictures.net

23. Photo CreditsSlide 12: Photo by Brother Joe Tesar, MSC, member of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart, United States ProvinceSlide 13: Soil, by ByMesaytsegaye (Own work) via Wikimedia CommonsSlide 14: Sunflower Seed, by Anna Cervovavia PublicDomainPictures.netSlide 15: Brown Background, by Sharon Aptedvia PublicDomainPictures.netSlide 16: Mother Kissing Baby by DaydreamsGirlvia istockphoto.comSlide 17: Sprouting, by Peter Griffin via PublicDomainPictures.netSlide 18: Pushing out of hands, ©Svetavia istockphoto.comSlide 19: © mipan – Fotalia.comSlide 20: Tiny Plant, by Jean Sander via PublicDomainPictures.netSlide 21: Wildflowers, by David Wagner via PublicDomainPictures.netSlides 22 and 23: Fresh Spring Background, by Peter Kratochvilvia PublicDomainPictures.net