OPENING OUR HEART TO JESUS ~ CookingFood.Org

“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”

Daily Reflections

Thursday, 27^th July 2017.

Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Ex 19: 1-2, 9-11, 16-20;

Dan 3: 29-34 (R) 29

Mt 13:10-17.

OPENING OUR HEART TO JESUS

In life, we are always curious, as well as amazed by mystery. Yet when we lose the sense of mystery in religion, then God becomes just a concept. In the times of Jesus, God had become just a thing that existed only in the minds of the people but not a reality in their hearts. Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah in the gospel: ‘For the heart of this nation has grown coarse, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes’. Jesus was aware that some who heard his parables refused to understand them. It was not that they could not intellectually understand them, but rather, their hearts were closed to what Jesus was saying. They had already made up their minds to not believe. The parables of Jesus will enlighten us if we approach them with an open mind and heart, ready to let them challenge us. God’s word can only take root in a receptive heart that is ready to believe and willing to submit.

And to those who accept his teaching Jesus promise more to those who have more, and less to those who have not. One goal of a parable is to get someone thinking. It’s a way of drawing them in so that they can engage their minds with the Word that was spoken. When someone is open to the Truth, such as the disciples, Jesus is able to lift the veil and speak clearly, deeply and beautifully about the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. This must be our goal. We must seek to understand all Jesus speaks and believe it wholeheartedly. In fact, once we do begin to believe and, subsequently, live what we come to believe, we will begin a wonderful journey of faith and understanding that we never knew existed before. This is what Jesus means when he says, “to anyone who has, more will be given.” The life of grace is such that, once we begin to accept all that is true and then allow it to transform our lives, we will be given exponentially more than we ever imagined. And, on the other side, when we refuse to listen and understand, even the little faith and understanding we have will slowly slip away into confusion.

Let us reflect on how open we are to the Word of God. Seek to listen and understand. If we do this, we will discover that there is a glorious life of grace just waiting to be lavished upon us in full force.

Prayer: Lord, I do want to know You. I do want to seek You and to discover all that You have to say. Help me to turn to You in all things and to grow continually deeper in the life of faith. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.