"Preparing the Soil of the Heart" – Homily – 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Why do some people hear the Gospel yet remain unchanged, while others bear abundant fruit? In this homily for the 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Fr Michael reflects on Jesus' Parable of the Sower and His surprising words about those who "hear but do not understand." Using simple images—a muddy window, an untended garden, and weeds that steal nutrients—this homily explores the real obstacles to hearing God's voice. The problem is not that God fails to speak or that we are incapable of understanding. More often, distractions, shallow roots, anxiety, pride, and sin prevent the Word of God from taking deep root in our hearts. This reflection is a practical invitation to remove whatever blocks God's grace, cultivate an interior life of prayer, and allow His Word to bear fruit thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold in our families, our parish, and the world.