15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the book, The Paradox of Choice by Barry Scwartz, it has been mentioned that “Autonomy and Freedom of choice are critical to our well being, and choice is critical to freedom and autonomy.” This quote gives us an idea that there is a causal connection between choice and well being. This idea is relevant in explaining the Gospel we have today.

The Gospel of Matthew 13: 1-23 is a very familiar Gospel passage as it talks about the Parable of the Sower. But if we take a closer look at the explanation of Jesus regarding the Parable of the Sower, we realize that it tells us about four different choices on what to do with the Word of God.

First among the four choices, one hears the Word but chooses not to understand It. Then there is the one who hears the Word and immediately chooses to receive It with joy; yet he has no root in himself. Third, there is one who hears the Word but he chooses the delight of riches and the pleasure of the world instead. The last one, he hears the Word, understands It and chooses to bear fruit.

Going back to the idea that there is a causal connection between choice and well being, the result of the four different choices to one’s well being are the following: for the first one, evil snatches away what is sown in his heart. It means he is spiritually poor in his well being as there is no standard of goodness for him to keep. Then for the one who immediately chooses the Word yet he has no root in himself, he is spiritually healthy only during good times, but sick during bad times. For the one who chooses riches and the pleasure of the world, he may be well at the sight of the world but his well being is detached from any form of spirituality. It was only the last one who made a good choice as it brings good result to his well being. This is indicated by being productive in the community.

In saying all these, we now ask ourselves to choose among the four where we wish to commit ourselves. We may have too many choices to make yet we have to decide what is really important for our total well being. It is easy for us to say that we must choose the fourth one yet we know honestly we are far from it in reality. In my personal journey as a parish priest for 5 years, I know I have been in the first three choices and never in the fourth one. My mind says I must choose the fourth one but I often modify my choices along the way. It is indeed difficult to commit to a choice when freedom and autonomy are also at work in us. Hopefully, with the help of God, someday I can say I give up my will, my mind, my memory, my freedom and autonomy and stick only to the choice I have made. Amen.