15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A (2026)

In this lengthy parable, Jesus speaks of seed that is sown. The seed symbolizes the Gospel, the Good News, the Word of God, which is Christ himself, while the soil is the human heart. He explains that there are some who are unable to receive the Good News, prompting the question, “Why?”. It's because some soil is not well prepared to receive him.^[1]

There’s a famous expression: "Nemo dat quod non habet", meaning "no one can give what they do not have". Considering this parable, as well as our call as Christians, we realize that we cannot spread the Good News if we ourselves have not properly received it.

Earlier this week, three young women I’ve never seen before arrived before Mass and greeted me. “You’re Father Todd? We came to speak to you about the love of God. Could we have about a half hour of your time?” Although I did my best to remain pleasant and positive outwardly, interiorly I thought, “What is it they are going to ask or demand of me? Why did I tell them who I am? How much am I going to regret this?”

As they requested, I made time to meet with them. I learned that they are Catholic and are from various parts of California. They didn’t know each other prior to being sent here as part of a program, designed to encourage them to trust in God’s providence and in the Good News he had placed in their hearts. Although they had jobs and families back home—as well as cellphones—they left it all behind to come here as missionaries, to tell me and other priests about God’s love.

I was privileged to hear each of them describe how their lives had been—marked by a lukewarm Catholic faith and lots of destructive choices. But each of them had experienced a transformative moment in which it all changed. They rejoiced to tell me of having finally received the Good News of being more alive, more joyous. What a gift it proved to be.

So, considering the parable and the seed cast to various types of places, most of us here would likely relate to the third type of soil Jesus described: the seed that fell among thorns and was choked. Like too many Christians, we may not deny the Good News, but we bear little fruit. We show up each week without even considering why we are here or what God hopes to do in and through us.

How does that happen? First, we fail to respond to the Good News. It is like a gift placed in our hands that we never open. We fool ourselves into believing—“I don’t really need the gift”. But also because we’re too distracted by all the noise of life—the social media posts, the alluring fluff and drama, hour after hour of video games, and one stupid video after another, after another, after another. We’re too lazy and distracted for the Good News and it has left us, collectively, the most anxious generation.

Most of us need to dial back how much screentime we give each day. It’s an addiction for too many of us, and it’s left us with no room for God and His Good News, but also for meaningful human connection. We need to trust enough to turn off our screens for a portion of the day (parents too). Each day, pick two consecutive hours that you’re awake to turn it off. You can build from there.

Then we can start to detox, and begin finding breathing space where our minds and hearts can actually rest, finding a little more room in our day to pray, to read, to reflect and contemplate.

Then we can begin to open the gift we’ve received and explore the hard questions: How do I know there is a God? If there is, why is Jesus necessary? If he is, why is Catholicism the way to experience Jesus, especially since it tends to be more challenging to live? And back to the question of the existence of a God, Why do people suffer, and Why do all the good things that I reasonably desire not come to be?

It’s then that we can receive the Good News, let it come alive within us and can bear fruit. "Nemo dat quod non habet". We cannot spread the Good News if we ourselves have not properly received it.

^[1] Kreeft, Peter. Food for the Soul: Reflections on the Mass Readings (Cycle A) (Food for the Soul Series Book 1). Kindle Edition.