Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Wednesday of the 16th week in ordinary time, July 23, 2025

Delivered by Ria from the Parish of Good Shepherd in the Diocese of Surabaya, Indonesia. Exodus 16: 1-5.9-15; Rs psalm 78: 18-19.23-24.25-26.27-28; Matthew 13: 1-9.HUNGRY FOR THE WORD OF GOD The title for our meditation today is:Hungry For The Word of God. There was a 5th grade elementary school boyapproached the Pastor after the Holly Mass was celebrated. In his homily, thePastor described how the hearts and minds of human beings are like fertile soilwhich is hungry for planting crops. The boy said to the Pastor in this way:"Earlier before Mass I felt hungry, but after hearing the Pastor’s sermonand until the Mass finished I do not feel hungry anymore." The priest then said to a number ofpeople who were there, that if all the people who attend the worships andcelebration of the sacraments, have the attitude like that elementary schoolboy, our Church would be an ideal Church desired by the Lord Jesus. Because Godalways says, as stated in the scriptures, whoever is hungry for Him and comesto get food from Him, he will not be anymore hungry.  When the Lord Jesus says that"The seed that falls on good soil produces hundredfold fruits", Hewants to teach us about hunger for the Word of God. Good and fertile soil is asymbol of ourselves as individuals and groups both in families and incommunities. That elementary school boy is a representation of all of us, whichmakes the Word of God a special gift of God that is poured out and falls intous, and is expected to grow there. How God's word can grow and ultimatelymultiply, as we all know, then eventually bear fruits? A growth that gives noresults, just like the fruitless fig tree that the Lord cursed. We really needsupporting factors in order to provide growth and give the expected results. Inthis reflection we can mention a number of these factors. First, in various spiritual activitiesthat serve the Word of God, our most fundamental attitude needs to bemanifested, that is our feeling of hunger for the Word of God. We depart fromthe conditions and life experiences that show we are hungry and really want tobe given spiritual food. Without feeling hungry, one can be considered asinfertile land. Furthermore, in order to have satisfaction and to provideenergy for our continual growth, we need two qualities, namely understandingand practice the Word of God. The ability to understand the word ofGod requires us to listen carefully and earnestly. The ability to carry out theWord of God requires us to understand correctly, continually and  in relevance with our real lives. Be yourselfhungry for God's Word. Let's pray. In the name of theFather... O God, may the word of Jesus Christ Your Son grow and bear fruitalways in us. Hail Mary full of grace ... In the name of the Father...