How do we hear parables without reverting to what we have heard many times before? Today’s reflection invites us to explore the parable of the sower from a new perspective and allow the Good News to bear fruit in unexpected ways.

July 12, 2026: Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Isaiah 55:10–11
Psalm 65:10–14
Romans 8:18–23
Matthew 13:1–23

The Soil of Our Hearts

As a PhD student of theology, I read a lot. And I mean a lot. Some texts I read are easier than others, and I often have to read a text several times to grasp what the author is trying to convey. Even then, I do not always capture the full meaning! But I’ve learned that whether reading theological texts, spiritual reflections, or scripture, the gift of being on the journey with God is that there is always more to discover and more to learn about God’s love for us and the world.

In today’s Gospel, we read the well-known parable of the sower. Because of its familiarity, it is easy to approach the text thinking we’ve already gleaned all the meaning we can from it. When sitting down to write this reflection, I had a similar thought: what can I say that hasn’t been said before? Yet the beauty of the parables is that if we resist the urge to think we have it all figured out, we are free to explore meanings and perspectives that might not be the “default” interpretation. So, the question becomes: how do we hear parables without reverting to what we have heard many times before?

One of my favorite theologians, Amy-Jill Levine, a professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies, has a wonderful book called Short Stories by Jesus, in which she offers a Jewish perspective on some of the most popular parables. Her aim is for her readers to hear and experience the parables as a first-century Jewish person might have. Levine emphasizes that the parables in scripture raise questions about our actions and relationships and should challenge us and motivate us to act. If they do not, we have not allowed the parables to capture us and change us.

In the parable of the sower, Jesus says: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil. It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep, and when the sun rose, it was scorched, and it withered for lack of roots. Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it. But some seed fell on rich soil and produced fruit a hundredfold, sixtyfold, or thirtyfold. Whoever has ears ought to hear” (Mt 13:3–9). Upon hearing this, the disciples were confused. They ask Jesus to explain it to them in private, and, in a rare move on Jesus’ part, he offers an interpretation.

As Levine describes it, the disciples are now on the “inside.” Because Jesus explains to them in private, they have information that others outside their group do not have. Having insider information means they should be able to change their actions and understand Jesus’ mission. Yet the irony is that throughout the rest of Matthew’s gospel, the disciples repeatedly show they do not understand Jesus. In fact, it is the outsiders who have a better understanding of Jesus: the hemorrhaging woman who knows she will be healed if she just touches the hem of Jesus’ garment; or Jairus, who trusts Jesus will heal his daughter and bring her back from the dead.

If we look at the parable from this perspective, we see that it challenges us to move from insider knowledge to faithful action. Levine writes, “The warning is judging others and boasting of insider status. The challenge is that we all should work to ensure that the soil is fertile – we do that by nurturing others and by removing whatever rocks and thorns prevent wholeness and shalom. The yield when we heed the Good News, attend to the warnings, and accept the challenge, is enormous.” If we heed Levine’s call and not approach the parable as if we have it all figured out, we are challenged to reflect on those areas in our personal lives and in our communities where we need to grow, challenge, forgive, or repair.

We are called to examine the soil of our own hearts, hear the Good News with openness, and let it bear fruit in how we live. Listening to those on the outside means opening ourselves to voices that have been marginalized and to those whose experiences differ from our own. Listening to the parable with new ears requires humility and a willingness to learn from perspectives different from our own, recognizing that insight and wisdom are not limited to those considered "insiders." When we truly listen to those on the margins—those whose stories challenge our assumptions and broaden our understanding—we allow ourselves to be changed, and we help create a community where all are valued. We allow ourselves to be surprised by the parable and find new meaning in a familiar story. We allow the Good News to take root in unexpected places and bear fruit in ways we may never have anticipated.

Sr. Jane Aseltyne, IHM holds a MA in Systematic Theology and Spirituality from the Catholic Theological Union at Chicago. Her master’s thesis entitled, “Beyond the Binary: Expanding Understandings of the Imago Dei,” seeks to develop a more inclusive understanding of what it means to be made in the image and likeness of God, particularly concerning gender and sexual orientation.