15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit,
a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.

What are parables?

The word parable (Hebrew mashal; Syrian mathla, Greek parabole) signifies in general a comparison, or a parallel, by which one thing is used to illustrate another. It is a likeness taken from the sphere of real, or sensible, or earthly incidents, in order to convey an ideal, or spiritual, or heavenly meaning.

Its Greek designation (from paraballein to throw beside or against) indicates a deliberate "making up" of a story in which some lesson is at once given and concealed.

the New Testament parables have each a definite meaning, to be ascertained from the explanation, where Christ deigns to give one, as in the sower; and when none such is forthcoming, from the occasion, introduction, and appended moral.

(Catholic Encyclopedia)

Background of the Parable

In our country the farmer prepares the field first and only then does he plant. But in Palestine it's the reverse. The farmer sows the seed and only then does he plow the field. For this reason it is indeed possible that in process of sowing some seed will fall on the footpath, others among the weeds. The Palestinian fields are said to hide stones. When the field is plowed, the stones are unearthed. Hence, the seed falling on stoney ground.

About the weeds that have thorns. When we visited the Dominus Flevit Church in the year of the Great Jubilee I saw a plant with long sharp thorns. They look like the 'aroma' tree here in the Philippines. Gosh, if that was the tree from which the crown of thorns was made, I couldn't imagine the pain suffered by Jesus.

Message of the Parable

The parable is illustrating the apparent failure of the ministry of Jesus. The Jews as a people did not receive Jesus and his message. Nevertheless, the few who did receive him and his message produced abundant fruit in their ministry among the gentiles.