Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A

Sister Anh Thu, a Dominican sister from Vietnam, shared a story in her 5th Book “Something with God":

The story is told that an 11-year-old boy named Bobby came to learn piano. The teacher didn't want to accept him, but because the boy begged her, she agreed. With her experience in teaching, the teacher knew Bobby was not gifted in music. Although she tried her best to keep it for herself, but oftentimes the teacher showed her frustration. She blamed Bobby's mother for sowing in her child a dream that was beyond his ability. Whenever the teacher scolded him, Bobby whispered to himself: "Mom, one day you will hear me play the piano."

End of course recital came, and all students were allowed to show to their parents what they have learned. When the teacher looked around and did not see Bobby, she was so happy because she thought that Bobby would not do well. Suddenly, Bobby arrived but with a weary look and red eyes. At his turn, Bobby went up to the stage. But he didn't perform the song that he had practiced for many days for this concert. He performed a more difficult song. When the music was played, the whole room listened in silence. And when the song ended, the whole hall stood up and applauded.

Bobby approached the microphone, bowed to the audience, and then said, "Mom, do you like this song?" Bobby's words surprised everyone, they looked around to see who his mother was. The music teacher was afraid that something might go wrong. She rushed up to the stage to take the youth down. At that moment, a social worker approached the teacher and whispered to her. “Bobby's mother was deaf. Her whole life, she was looking forward to seeing her son to play a song once. But her wishes did not come to her. She died this morning of cancer.”

The love that Bobby had for his mother was the strength that moved him to do an incredible thing. The Word of God of Sunday, Matthew 13: 1-23, must be reflected by each of us. Jesus spoke to them at length in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit, a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear.” (Mt 13: 3-9)

In explaining this parable to his disciples, Jesus indicated that the seed He spoke of in the parable was the living Word from God.

We believe that life exists only through, with and in Jesus Christ. And His word is spirit and life for each of us on our journey to the eternal home.

So do we really love God enough to open the door of our hearts and minds to accept and live with His Gospel?

Fr. Phi Nguyen