FOUR CATEGORIES OF FAITH

Sunday, July 16, 2023

15th Week in Ordinary Time

First Reading. Isaiah 55: 10-11

Psalm. 65: 9-13 (R. Lk5:Sa)

Second Reading.  Romans 8: 18-23

Gospel. Matthew 13: 1-23

TOPICS FOR REFLECTION

FOUR CATEGORIES OF FAITH

HOW DEEP IS YOUR FAITH IN GOD?

Jesus in today's Gospel presents to us four categories of faith and its consequences. 

In these categories of faith, each one of us will certainly belong to one category among them, or maybe swingling between two or three as situations may permit. 

Below are the four categories of FAITH as presented by Jesus. 

1. Blank Faith

2. Emotional Faith

3. Conditional Faith

4. Rooted Faith

Therefore, let us examine each category one after another.

1. BLANK FAITH

A Sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them.

This means that when anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was sown along the path

Persons of such nature are those who will tell you they have no religion, no doctrine, anything goes, they feel indifference about religion. Such are the people who can easily be swept off the floor. They can attend any church freely, mosque, traditionalist, etc.****

2. EMOTIONAL FAITH

The seeds that falls on rocky ground, where they had not much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched; and since they had no root they withered away.

Emotional persons oftentimes act without much reason and conviction. So, as for the seed that was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy (emotion); yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.

3. CONDITIONAL FAITH

The seeds fell upon thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them.

So, some people's faith in God is basically on the condition that things are rosy, they have what they want, wealth, etc. However,  once suffering comes, they abandon God. Their faith is based on material wealth. So they can do anything to get rich in other to sustain their faith.

These are the ones whose seeds were sown among thorns, those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

4. ROOTED FAITH

These seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 

As for the seeds sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and another thirty.”

Those whose faith is rooted in God are the people who hold unto God in season and out of season, nothing can disturb their faith. Not even persecution or suffering. (Rom. 8: 38-39)

These are the people who believe in the words of St. Paul to the Romans in today's second reading when he said: "Consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God"

So, they know what they profess, and do not allow anything to distract them from their focus on the kingdom of God.

Meanwhile, the first reading from the prophet Isaiah summarised the glory of having absolute faith in God.

He said as the rain comes into the earth and does not go back without watering the seeds of the sower, so does the Word of God comes and did not go back without fulfilment. 

In truth, Jesus the Word of God came,  He sowed the seed of the kingdom of God on earth, He watered it by nurturing it to grow through the Church, while He harvests by separating the good from the bad.

Hence, He concludes: 

"He who has ears, let him hear.”

So, which category of Faith do you belong to?

Peace ✌️ be with you. 

Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.