BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO LISTEN

July 24, 2025 Thursday within the 16th week in Ordinary Time Year C Matthew 13:10–17 Today’s gospel brings us into the reality of how we perceive and process truth. When the disciples ask Jesus why He speaks in parables, He essentially says that people see and hear, but not all are truly receptive. This speaks to a deeper reality: our minds and hearts filter what we allow ourselves to believe. Just as past wounds, pride, or fear can cloud our relationships with others, they can also block our openness to God. Many hear the Word, but few allow it to penetrate beyond the surface. Personally, we tend to resist what threatens our comfort zones. The parables of Jesus, while seemingly simple stories, challenge assumptions, confront illusions, and invite transformation. But transformation requires self-awareness and surrender—both of which can be frightening. That’s why Jesus says, “They look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.” He’s not condemning them but describing a common human defense: the tendency to shut down when truth becomes too personal or too uncomfortable. This Gospel reminds us that spiritual understanding requires not just faith, but emotional honesty and inner freedom. To truly “see” and “hear” in the spiritual sense means allowing God to bypass our ego defenses and touch the deeper layers of the soul. It is a daily choice to stay open, to reflect, and to let grace heal what blocks our vision. In a noisy, anxious world, the quiet soul becomes the fertile ground where the Word can finally take root. Blessings Fr. Jhack