Then the disciples
came and said to him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" And he
answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the
kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to him who has
will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even
what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because
seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. With
them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says: `You shall indeed
hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive. For
this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and
their eyes they have closed, lest they should perceive with their eyes, and
hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal
them.' But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they
hear. Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what
you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear
it.
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Do you want to grow
in your knowledge of God? Saint Augustine of Hippo once said: "I believe,
in order to understand; and I understand, the better to believe." Both
faith and understanding are gifts of the Holy Spirit that enable us to hear
God's word with clarity so we can know God better and grow in the knowledge of
his love and truth. Jesus, however, had to warn his disciples that not everyone
would understand his teaching. The prophet Isaiah had warned that some would
hear God's word, but not believe, some would see God's actions and miracles,
and remained unconvinced. Ironically some of the greatest skeptics of Jesus'
teaching and miracles were the learned scribes and Pharisess who prided
themselves on their knowledge of scripture and the law of Moses. They heard
Jesus' parables and saw the great signs and miracles which he performed, but
they refused to accept both Jesus and his message. How could they "hear
and never understand" and "see but never perceive"? They were
spiritually blind and deaf because their hearts were closed and their minds
were blocked by pride and prejudice. How could a man from Galilee, the supposed
son of a carpenter, know more about God and his word, than these experts who
devoted their lives to study and teaching?
There is only one
thing that can open a closed, confused, and divided mind – a broken heart and
humble spirit! The word disciple means one who is willing to learn
and ready to submit to the wisdom and truth which comes from God. Psalm 119
expresses the joy and delight of a disciple who loves God's word and who
embraces it with trust and obedience. "Oh, how I love your law! It is my
meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it
is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your
testimonies are my meditation."
God can only reveal
the secrets of his kingdom to the humble and trusting person who acknowledges
their need for God and for his truth. The parables of Jesus will enlighten us
if we approach them with an open mind and heart, ready to let them challenge
us. If we approach God's word with indifference, skepticism, and disbelief,
then we, too, may "hear but not understand" and "see but not
perceive." God's word can only take root in a receptive heart that is
ready to believe and willing to submit. If we want to hear and to understand
God's word, we must listen with reverence and faith. Do you believe God's word
and do you submit to it with trust and reverence?
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"Holy Spirit, be
my teacher and guide. Open my ears to hear God's word and open my eyes to
understand God's action in my life. May my heart never grow dull and may my
ears never tire of listening to the voice of Christ."
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