A reading from the holy Gospel according to 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 the, 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." The Gospel of the Lord
REFLECTION: 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.
When we are at church or at prayer meetings, are you not struck by the fact that there are so many people out there who have the gift of faith that you wish you had? Is it that God has given them more and you less? Of course not, but God has given equally but some have more of an open heart to receive the message of God but others have chosen to close their heart or ears to the graces God is offering them.
The Scribes and Pharisees are a perfect example of hearing but not understanding and of seeing but not perceiving. The had closed their hearts and were blinded by pride and prejudice.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, please give us all the graces needed to have faith in you and all your promises. Help us to practice our faith and to be every mindful of you and to grow in the knowledge of your love and truth. Amen
God Bless
Pray for PAPA priests.
