Thursday in the Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time, July 23, 2020

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.”

Jesus reveals the Kingdom of heaven to the crowds, but he teaches the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven only to his closest followers, who have spent some time with him and are devoted to him.  They are thus the best prepared for learning of the mysteries of the Kingdom.  On this occasion, the Apostles ask him why he speaks to them about the Kingdom in the form of parables that they are not easily going to understand.  The Lord tells the parables for everyone, casual listener and devoted follower alike.  Each will take something away from hearing them.  The Apostles will ask questions about them, but the people in the crowds do not.  They certainly could ask questions, but they choose not to do so.  Is this because their pride tells them that they do understand what the Lord has said, or because their pride will not allow them to appear ignorant?  Is it because they have gathered together for a show, not to learn about eternal things, and hang around until they realize there will be nothing of the kind?  Or do they like to listen to him and ponder his words but do not feel capable of asking questions.  It is easy to imagine folks walking home after hearing the Prodigal Son parable, considering it in very literal terms, and arguing over the characters and their actions.  But the people do not ask the Lord what he means.

The Lord goes on to speak of these people who “look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.”  Here is One who has shown himself to be the Son of God by curing the sick, casting out demons, and raising the dead.  They themselves say that nothing like what he has done has ever happened before.  And yet when he tells them of heaven and the life of grace and how they might be saved, they do not listen to what he says.  They listen instead for what they want to hear.  They hear the words that they must repent of their sins, but they do not take them to heart.  It is as though each person thought he was talking about someone else.  We recall how the Lord reproached Capharnaum, a town in which he had spent much time: “If the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day” (Matthew 11, 23).  

It is necessary for us to study and contemplate our Lord’s words, and just as necessary for us to take them personally.