Homily For Wednesday of The Third Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 28th January, 2026. The Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas

 

Readings: 2Tim 1:1-8; Ps. 96; Mark 4:1-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

TO WHICH DO YOU HEART BELONGS

A good disposition and positive response towards whatever we do in life has a way of building up our confidence and interior life, and this of course, leads us to great success. Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, Jesus uses the parable of the sower to describe different kinds of responses to God's Word. 

He explained the parable by pointing out our different dispositions towards the Word of God in relation to our interior life. This will help us to know whether our soul is like dry rocky ground or whether we regularly seek to nourish our soul and prepare it to receive the holy Word of God. So we are called to create a fertile disposition within our hearts to do the will of God.

In the scriptures, many hear the words of Jesus and do not understand them because of poor disposition, for instance, the religious leaders who are against his teachings, the crowds that responded positively to Jesus, especially to his miracles of healing, yet turned against him at the end and demanded his crucifixion. 

Some disciples, such as Judas, might also be included among those who fall away when trouble or persecution came on account of the Word. The rich young man, who was unable to part with his possessions, provides a clear example of one who hears the word, but the love for the passing things of this world and the lure of wealth choked the word, and it yielded nothing. 

But what about the good soil? These are those who hear the Word, understand it and internalise it. They indeed bear fruit and yield an abundant harvest. Our mother Mary and the disciples, excluding Judas, are good examples of such people. Therefore, the different kinds of ground on which the seed falls represent different ways by which we receive the Word of God. 

Dear friends, our hearts are the fields in which the Word of God is scattered. But, to which do our hearts belong? The pathway, the rocky ground, the thorns or the good soil? Whichever one, we are called to have the right disposition and a positive response to the Word of God. We are to pay attention and take some time to appreciate God’s Word in our lives by allowing it to bear solid roots in us so that we can bear great fruits that will manifest in our interior life.

This is what we see in the life of St. Thomas Aquinas whose memorial we celebrate. For he was one of the famous theologians, who understood what it means to sow the seed of faith in people so as to build the kingdom of God. Thomas is remembered for his great work, the Summa Theologiae and many other contributions, writings and works which still influenced and inspired so many people.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, oftentimes our disposition and response towards your Word is so poor. As we listen to your Words today, through the intercessions of St Thomas Aquinas give us grace to remain open to receiving your Words, to bear fruit abundantly. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Have a favourable day.