Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 21, 2022
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.”
Of all the burdens imposed by the pandemic, I missed going out to eat the most. Whether a leisurely weekend breakfast with friends or a long, festive holiday meal with family, I have always loved a shared meal’s energy—the socializing, connecting, and relationship-building. No surprise, I quickly accepted a recent breakfast invitation.
The waiter breezed by our booth as we sat and casually inquired, “Whaddaya drinkin’ here?” My friend was fine with water. I asked for, “Coffee and orange juice, please.” The waiter returned. He plopped a large glass of water in front of my friend and a ceramic mug in front of me.
Then with a quick burst of ambidextrous efficiency, he poured coffee into the mug with his right hand and topped it off with orange juice from his left. Coffee with orange juice. In the same cup. What?!? I couldn’t believe my eyes. Who puts orange juice in their coffee? Apologies and comedy followed, mine for the apparent lack of clarity, his for the obvious lack of experience.
Is it any wonder why Scripture and tradition affirm the importance of listening? Amidst the noise of modern culture, wisdom reveals itself in attentiveness, mindfulness, and diligence. The ancient morning and evening prayer in Judaism from Deuteronomy 6:4-9 begins, “Hear, O Israel.”
Jesus is quoted seven times in the gospels, saying, “He who has ears, let him hear.” Saint Benedict begins The Rule by directing, “Listen carefully to the master’s instructions and attend to them with the ear of your heart.”
We hear many things in our daily lives, encounter many messages, and engage in multiple virtual and physical conversations. But how much do we truly hear? How deep is our listening, and how attentive are our hearts? Today’s gospel is an invitation to thoughtfulness and reflection, to both hearing and listening.
Prayer
Almighty God, every day you reveal to us your presence and the depth of your love for us. Open our hearts to receive your mercy, our minds to understand your wisdom. Make us worthy vessels of your grace. Help us bring your love to a broken world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Lawrence of Brindisi had a brilliant mind and used his influence to build the kingdom of God in both the secular and sacred spheres of his day.
He was born in Brindisi in the kingdom of Naples in 1559, and given the name Cesare de Rossi. He was educated by Franciscans, and furthered his studies in Venice. He decided to follow his teachers, and became a Capuchin Franciscan priest, taking the name Lawrence.
He had a near perfect recall of Scripture, and learned Greek, Hebrew, German, Bohemian, French, and Spanish. Lawrence’s preaching was noticed by many, and he was entrusted with more responsibilities. Soon he was given tasks by both the pope and the emperor that took him through Italy and Germany, where he founded new monasteries and developed the Church.
In one case, Lawrence even led the army. The emperor sent Lawrence to help the German princes repel Turkish forces threatening Hungary. Lawrence was appointed chaplain of the forces; known for his wisdom, the generals asked his advice when they faced a confrontation with the enemy. Lawrence advised attacking, and even rode before the army carrying a crucifix. The Turks were soundly defeated, and the victory was attributed to Lawrence’s assistance and example.
Lawrence continued to assist rulers of his age as a messenger and diplomat, and used his influence to improve governance and promote peace. He was worn out from all of his labors and travel, and died in 1619. When his life and writings were reviewed in his cause for canonization, it was declared that he was to be honored as a doctor of the Church. Most of his writings were sermons, which stood out for teaching the faith so well.
Relics of St. Lawrence of Brindisi rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica, and his image is used here with permission from Catholic.org.
St. Lawrence of Brindisi, you were the diplomat who used your mind and heart to build the kingdom of God—pray for us!