15th Sunday in Ordinary Time15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

July 10, 2005July 10, 2005

Thus says Thus says the Lord:the Lord:As the rain As the rain and the snow and the snow come down from come down from the heavens the heavens and do not and do not return till return till they have they have watered watered the earth, the earth,

making it making it yield seed for the yield seed for the

sower and food for sower and food for others to eat, others to eat,

so is my word so is my word that goes forth that goes forth

out of my mouth:out of my mouth:

it will not return to me idle,but it shall accomplish my will,

the purpose for which it has been sent.

Brothers and sisters: "I consider that the suffering of our present life cannot be compared with the Glory that will be revealed and given to us. All creation is eagerly expecting the birth in glory of the children of God.

For if now the For if now the created world was created world was unable to attain its unable to attain its

purpose, this did not purpose, this did not come from itself, but come from itself, but

from the one who from the one who subjected it. But it is subjected it. But it is

not without hope; not without hope; for even the created for even the created

world will be freed world will be freed from this fate of from this fate of

death and share the death and share the freedom and glory freedom and glory

of the children of the children of God.of God.

We know that the whole We know that the whole creation groans and suffers creation groans and suffers the pangs of birth. Not the pangs of birth. Not creation alone, but even creation alone, but even ourselves, although the ourselves, although the Spirit was given to us as a Spirit was given to us as a foretaste of what we are to foretaste of what we are to receive, we groan in our receive, we groan in our innermost being, eagerly innermost being, eagerly awaiting the day when God awaiting the day when God will give us full rights and will give us full rights and rescue our bodies as well.rescue our bodies as well.

Jesus left the house and sat

down by the lakeside. As many

people gathered around him, he

got in a boat. There he sat while

the whole crowd stood on the

shore, and he spoke to them in

parables about many things.

Jesus said, "The sower went Jesus said, "The sower went out to sow and, as he sowed, out to sow and, as he sowed,

some seeds fell along the some seeds fell along the path and the birds came and path and the birds came and

ate them up. ate them up.

Other seeds fell on rocky Other seeds fell on rocky ground where there was little ground where there was little soil, and the seeds sprouted soil, and the seeds sprouted quickly because the soil was quickly because the soil was not deep. not deep.

But as soon the sun rose But as soon the sun rose the plants were scorched the plants were scorched

and withered becauseand withered because they had no roots. they had no roots.

Again other seeds fell Again other seeds fell among thistles; and the among thistles; and the thistles grew and choked the thistles grew and choked the plants. Still other seeds fell plants. Still other seeds fell on good soil and produced a on good soil and produced a crop; some produced a crop; some produced a hundredfold, others sixty hundredfold, others sixty and others thirty. If you have and others thirty. If you have ears, then hear!"ears, then hear!"