Was The Farmer Stupid?

(Homily of Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao during the 15th Sunday in Ordinary time and the Sending forth of the World Youth Day 2023 Delegates at San Pedro Cathedral Parish, July 15, 2023.)

We are nourished always by the word of God.

First reading: Isaiah says, “thus says the Lord, just as from the heavens, the rain and snow come down, and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, giving it seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats. So, shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth, my word shall not return to me void; but shall do my will achieving the end for which I sent it.”

The word of God proclaimed to us, its effect will really come true. First lesson this evening for us, if we just tell ourselves to be a bit conscious what the readings are because these are not ordinary texts but they are the written words of God.

In the Gospel reading, look at the parables, kung maminaw ka, bisan mga apostles maminaw, sower, you are supposed to know what you do and then you throw the seeds on the foot path, mahina ata itong farmer na ito, buang ka? Ilabay nimo sa footpath, mahal raba nang seeds noh, imong gipili na, imong ilabay sa dalan. And then may lag one mistake, next rocky ground, mahina. Anong klaseng farmer? What kind of example is this? Third, gilabay pa sa sagbot, cogonan, mahina nga farmer and then finally, rich ground.

The twist comes and it is a great lesson for us, if we follow the ordinary interpretation, therefore, kung si Romulo, gahig ulo di na mubalik ang Ginoo nako, kay di man mutubo. Katong gubot ug kasingkasing, katong mga hopeless dili diay muanha ang Ginoo? But yet this farmer, this sower, representing God, does exactly that katingalahan nga paagi, sa kabatoan, sa footpath, sa sagbot, tanan. Our interpretation is lacking, we think humanly, but God is exactly that stupid sower. But exactly, that is how God reaches to us day after day after day. He never gets tired of us.