Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:10-17

10 Then the disciples came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" 11 And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. 12 For to him who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. 14 With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says: `You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive. 15 For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them.' 16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 17 Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

What is it that we seek from the gospel? To know Christ. To become more intimate with our Father in Heaven. Today’s Gospel reading conveys a very simple message. Many of us are present, but not many of us participate. The Holy Spirit is all around us. Miracles happen every day before our eyes. Yet we go on ignoring the wonder and awe that the Lord has placed before us. We must open our hearts, our ears and eyes to the message of Christ. Both faith and understanding and gifts of the Holy Spirit that enable us to know God more fully. We should ask God to allow these gifts to expand our mind. Allow our reasoning to reveal God to us. More important, we should ask God for the strength and wisdom to share the Gospel with others so that they might hear rand see the Word of God. For many people, spiritual eyes are closed because of hearts are closed and they are unwilling to let God in to their lives. Jesus spoke in parables to simplify the message so that all could understand. If He could turn their ears to the simple message, hopefully He would turn their hearts. We must be willing to humble ourselves before God. In our humbleness, we will see God. We must be willing to learn and submit to the wisdom and truth which only comes from God. You can only hear the message if you want to hear the message. Open your heart, your eyes and your ears.

A Simple Prayer

Lord God, I submit to you.

Give me wisdom and understanding to hear the your word.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon