THURSDAY OF THE SIXTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, JULY 24, 2025

MASS READINGS:

Gospel

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."

REFLECTION

"Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?

A parable is a simple fictitious story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson. The stories are drawn from ordinary life, intended to make us think about the contents. They help us see beyond the obvious. Two thousand years later, the parables still fascinate and help us think deeper as we get to know Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven.

Through the gifts of the Holy Spirit of faith and understanding, we are able to hear God's word with clarity. And clarity is certainty. Some people are not there yet, not wanting to learn more or just simply not able to understand what Jesus said about the Kingdom, unless spoken in parables. Some people are spiritually blind, like the Pharisees, who heard His Words, and saw His miracles but yet refused to accept Him and His message.

Sometimes the parables in real life would not make sense, but they help us better understand as we ponder and think the lesson to be learned.

My favorite is The Prodigal Son. I love Rembrandt's depiction of all the main characters. I, too, had a prodigal son and every time I read this parable, I may be the father, next time the prodigal son, next time the gossipy servants or the angry faithful son. I find myself wearing all these hats and understanding more and more the love, mercy, and compassion of our Father. I am not spoon fed, but as I get to know the characters more and more, I see my anger, my pride, my prejudices, my loss of or inability to have good judgment as to what I should do, say, forgive, be quiet, be grateful.

I don't understand why the father was not angry at his son. Why did he not go looking for him? Did he pray? Did he cry?

What do you think?

When we go astray, Jesus never loses sight of us. He waits for us and when we come home greets us with open arms. I don't recall Him reminding me over and over of my sins, my failures, where I messed up; but I do remember His embrace when He brought my son home.

So many books and essays are written on the parables. Write your own book, your experiences in search of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Through prayer may my soul abandon, entrust and confide in God.

God Bless You