Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?”

Gospel Reading: 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."

What is it that we seek from the gospel? To know Christ and 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 are 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 importantly, we should ask God for the strength and wisdom to share the Gospel with others so that they might hear and see the Word of God. For many people, their spiritual eyes are closed because their 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 your word.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon