To See and to Hear
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The Mass that is celebrated today (Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1) has the following Gospel reading. Jesus has just shared his parable of the sower with the people who were following him.
The followers came to Jesus and asked, “Why do you use stories to teach the people?”
Jesus answered, “You have been chosen to know the secrets about the kingdom of heaven, but others cannot know these secrets. Those who have understanding will be given more, and they will have all they need. But those who do not have understanding, even what they have will be taken away from them. This is why I use stories to teach the people: They see, but they don’t really see. They hear, but they don’t really hear or understand. So they show that the things Isaiah said about them are true:
‘You will listen and listen, but you will not understand. You will look and look, but you will not learn. For the minds of these people have become stubborn. They do not hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might really understand what they see with their eyes and hear with their ears. They might really understand in their minds and come back to me and be healed.’ (Isaiah 6:9–10)
“But you are blessed, because you see with your eyes and hear with your ears. I tell you the truth, many prophets and good people wanted to see the things that you now see, but they did not see them. And they wanted to hear the things that you now hear, but they did not hear them” (Matthew 13:10-17 - New Century Version).
SEE
What has happened? What does Jesus want people to hear and to see? What does Jesus tell us about the people he meets in his society?
Why do some people in his society not see or hear what others see and hear? Is this a momentary occurrence? Or is it habitual? Why do some people choose to ignore Jesus?
What happens because some people choose to ignore what Jesus teaches? What are the consequences for those who choose to ignore him? And what are the consequences for those who do listen to Jesus?
JUDGE
What do you think about this situation and about the people Jesus speaks about? Imagine a situation in society today that concerns you and that you would like to change. How does Jesus’ teaching apply to the situation you have chosen?
What does Jesus say in his explanation about his use of parables that gives you some clues about how to approach the situation that concerns you?
If you were able to transform the situation you have been considering, what would it be like? How will you change to be someone who sees and hears?
ACT
What would you like to change so that Jesus is accepted by those who choose to ignore him?
What simple action can you take over the next week to contribute to their transformation? And your transformation?
Who can you involve with you in this action and how?
Author: Pat Branson
Image source: hearthymn.com