Daily Gospel Reflection for July 16, 2017 - Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today's Gospel: Matthew 13:1-23 - Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today’s Gospel reading is the familiar parable of the Sower. Yet, today, as I reflect on the passage, my heart is drawn to the verses sandwiched between the parable and the explanation of the parable.

The verses between (verses 10-17) share with us a conversation between Jesus and his disciples. I can visualize His disciples there at his feet, rapt in His teaching and His presence before the huge crowd. When they ask Him, “Why do you instruct them in parables?”, Jesus tells them:

The people in the crowd are not like you, My disciples. No, you walk by My side and have knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. They do not have this knowledge. Their eyes do not see what your eyes see. Their ears do not hear what your ears hear.

These disciples were ordinary people who had given up their old way of life – their homes and possessions even – to follow Jesus. They chose a lifestyle free of worldly distraction with a singular focus on following Jesus. They journeyed with Him daily, intent on familiarizing themselves with His ways and His teachings. The privilege of this discipleship?

“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.” Matthew 13:16-17

Oh, how I long to know Jesus as His first disciples did! To be called “blessed.” Today, I am reminded that I can! I am a blessed disciple each time I choose a quiet moment of prayer in the midst of my busy day. Each time I surrender a “possession” or worldly desire. Each time I take a step in my journey with Him, though I do not know where we are heading.

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Ponder:

What shifts will you make in your daily living, so that your eyes might see and your ears might hear?

Pray:

Jesus, show us how to be Your blessed disciples in our world today. Please grant that our eyes would see You, and our ears would hear You.

Copyright 2017 De Yarrison