Thursday 23rd July Saint Bridget of Sweden, Patroness of Europe
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.”
The Gospel of the Lord
The Mass intention is for Bridget D
Reflection:
Jesus, in today’s Gospel, reminds us that he speaks in parables so that those who are open to him will understand. But there are those who do not want to hear his gospel message because they know that it would leave them feeling uncomfortable and would force them to convert.
My friend’s, we are all called to conversion of heart and make changes to our lifestyles. You and I are called also to acknowledge what we have received from the God’s bountiful treasures and to be grateful for them and in giving thanks, to be worthy also of what we have received in this life is only a taste of what we will receive in eternal life.
- What role does the Father’s gratuitous grace have in understanding these parables?
Which is the parable of Jesus with which I most identify ? Why?
Fr John
