Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint 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.”
Knowledge of the Kingdom of Heaven
1. Parables. It’s clear that many times we’re not following the path of the first disciples that we read about in the book of the Acts of the Apostles. They went out and took the message to others and risked everything. They learned from Jesus to speak clearly and use the elements of the time and place to make themselves understood. Jesus teaches us that the message of the Kingdom must be made as clear as possible for people to understand. Today we must also work to make His Word accessible and close, to show Jesus’s message in everyday situations and experiences. What Jesus asked of us is not to attend congresses or to be in this or that group, He asked us to announce the Gospel and to take the grace of God to all. How do you get Christ’s teachings across to your brothers and sisters?
2. See and hear. There are times when we harden our minds and hearts, and we don’t allow Jesus’s message in. There are times when we shut ourselves off from others and we don’t let the Word into our hearts. Learn to open yourself to others’ experiences and perspectives instead of believing that only your truth matters. Listen actively, accept failure, and keep moving forward. Avoid becoming fixated on people or situations, and don’t shut yourself off from new realities. Let Jesus come into your heart and don’t allow prejudice to take over and make you be on the defensive. Don’t become hard-hearted or close-minded. Turn to Jesus and look for gentleness and happiness in your life. Don’t be afraid to open up and give yourself to others.
3. Blessed. This means recognising you’ve been chosen by God and embracing your life experiences, learning to focus on the positive things each day. Be aware that you can achieve anything if you believe. Believe in yourself and approach life as a structure built from unique stones—each day brings something new and strong. Avoid monotony, as relying on sameness can lead to collapse when things go wrong. Embrace openness to grow and shape your own life.
Never forget that something good is on the way!
God bless you and be with you, in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
