September 22, 2025 – Monday of the 25th week of Ordinary Time
HOMILY
Following the parable of the seed falling on different types of soil, and the explanation of this parable, Luke adds here, somewhat haphazardly, several sayings of Jesus that are found elsewhere in the Gospel of Matthew. I must confess that I scratched my head a little, wondering how I could best comment on this text. Finally, two words jumped out at me toward the end of this short text. The word “therefore” and the word “listen” — “Pay attention, therefore, to how you listen.” This “therefore” indicates that the few words that follow will be the conclusion of everything that precedes—not only the few lines that make up today's Gospel reading, but the entire parable and its explanation.
The conclusion is to be attentive to how we receive the Word of God. Every day we hear many parts of Scripture in the Divine Office, during the celebration of the Eucharist, and in our personal reading of Scripture.
Nor should we forget all that God tells us through the people around us, the events of our personal and community life, the events of the world and the Church, and what he tells us in the depths of our hearts.
And, ultimately, it is our hearts that matter. Are they rocky ground, a field covered with thorns, or good soil? Let us allow ourselves to be challenged throughout this day by the words of Jesus, as reported by Luke: “Take care, therefore, how you listen.”