Daily Gospel Reflection
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July 27, 2023
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.”
My former classmates know me as someone who asks questions and relentlessly pursues answers. If I don’t understand a concept, I have no shame in asking clarifying questions until I reach a satisfactory explanation. My relationship with Jesus is no different. “Lord, why this cross? Lord, where are you in this period of desolation? Lord, what are you trying to get me to understand?”
Perhaps this is why I have always respected and related to the disciples when they asked Jesus bluntly, “Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?” In the verses preceding this gospel, Jesus tells the Parable of the Sower to a large crowd. He even emphasizes the importance of the lesson, calling them twice to “Listen.” Clearly, not many, if any, understood what Jesus had tried to illustrate to them.
Good thing the brave disciples were there to ask for clarification! In the verses immediately following the conclusion of this passage, Jesus explains quite clearly what he meant by the Parable of the Sower.
How beautiful! When Christ gives us insight, he desires that we fully understand what he is trying to tell us. The only time we will ever “hear but not understand” is if we fail to ask the question (or questions) necessary.
So today, I pray that we courageously ask Jesus the questions we desire answered so that we might hear with our ears, understand in our hearts, and be converted, allowing him to heal us. Amen.
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.