The Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew (13:10-17)The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?” He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them, it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand. Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see. Gross is the heart of this people, they will hardly hear with their ears, they have closed their eyes, lest they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts and be converted and I heal them. “But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
Reflection: Jesus reveals that while the truths of the Kingdom of God are freely shared, not everyone is receptive to them. This passage prompts us to reflect on the importance of being open and attentive to God’s message in our daily lives. What we seek is to be rich spiritually – that is being open and attentive. If not, then the opposite happens – we lose those spiritual gifts God has given us and little we may have. There is a story of a busy executive who found himself buried deep in work and the demands of his career. Despite attending Mass regularly, he struggled to grasp the spiritual truths being presented to him. However, during a personal retreat, he encountered a wise elderly monk. The monk shared a simple parable about a pearl hidden in an oyster shell. He explained that just as the oyster must be opened and searched diligently, so too must our hearts be open and attentive to God’s wisdom and teachings. This encounter transformed the executive’s perspective. He realized that his preoccupation with worldly matters hindered his ability to fully embrace the profound truths of his faith. Through his reflection, he recognized the importance of creating intentional moments of silence and stillness to seek God’s presence and listen to His teachings, which had always been available but often went unnoticed. Like the disciples who were privileged to hear Jesus explain the meaning of his parables, the executive discovered the blessings of opening his heart to the hidden treasures of spiritual truth. His renewed faith brought a deeper understanding of God’s message and transformed his relationship with God, enabling him to live a more purposeful and fulfilling life guided by faith. This story reminds us of the profound wisdom contained within the Gospel parables. We are called to encourage others to actively seek and embrace the hidden treasures of God’s Word. By fostering a spirit of receptivity and attentiveness, we can help others unlock the abundant blessings that come from truly hearing and understanding the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Action of the Day Practice Lectio Divina (Divine Reading) – it is a method of prayerful reading of Scripture that involves the following steps:
- Lectio (Reading): Select a Scripture passage and read it aloud two or three times.
- Meditatio (Meditation): Reflect on a word or phrase that stood out to you and what it means for you.
- Oratio (Prayer): Respond to God who has been speaking to you through the Scripture passage.
- Contemplatio (Contemplation): Rest in the loving presence of God and listen to his voice in silence.
- Actio (Action): As a result of the encounter with God, commit to a concrete action that expresses your faith and love.
Audio Reflection:
