Posted by The WORD in other words (2006) by Father Patricio de los Reyes SVD – Cebu City
15th Sunday in Ordinary Time – A
The mission of the Word is to feed the world with the food of life. As Jesus said: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4).
When I was a seminarian, I was assigned with two companions to a barrio for weekend ministry. Our rule was simple: each time we visited, we had to find a house where we could sleep for the night.
One Saturday, we approached a house that had not been visited before because of the family’s unwelcoming attitude. The father opened the door and, after hearing our purpose, said: “I do not need your preaching. You go to those drunkards there. They are the people who need you.” We left disappointed, hoping for hospitality but finding rejection.
This experience taught me that our disposition toward God’s Word is often shaped by our circumstances, backgrounds, and environment. These influences can make us either open to welcoming the Word or resistant to it. As Jesus explained in the parable of the sower, the seed falls on different kinds of soil—some fruitful, some barren (Matthew 13:3–9).
So how do we welcome the Word and allow it to grow in our lives? We can transform negative experiences into opportunities for grace. We can cultivate our environment, no matter how harsh, so that God’s Word may bloom. As St. Paul reminds us: “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind” (Romans 12:2).
By giving new significance to our struggles, we make them fertile ground for the Word. We become responsible stewards of our own hearts, opening the door to Christ rather than denying Him entry: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him” (Revelation 3:20).
The mission of the Word is not only to be preached but to be welcomed. Each of us is called to create an environment where the Word can take root—turning rejection into openness, disappointment into hope, and resistance into faith.
The question is: Will we open the door and let the Word in?
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