Breaking the Word

16^th Week in Ord. Time, Thursday – 27^th July 2023 — Gospel: Mt 13,10-17

Spiritual Richness

Jesus described how the disciples heard the Word of God in a different way. God had blessed their hearts, eyes, and ears with the gift of understanding. But Jesus expected more from them than merely understanding. He said, “To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich…” (Mt 13,12). In this context, what is given and taken is knowledge about the kingdom of heaven. By extension, this also implies the ability to participate in the kingdom. Therefore, the purpose of understanding the Word of God is conversion. This does not happen solely by our own power but is granted by God. “But the Lord has not given you a heart to understand, or eyes to see, or ears to hear until this day” (Deut 29,3). The disciples’ commitment to the Messiah results in becoming rich about the knowledge of the kingdom of heaven. Israel’s rejection of the Messiah has resulted in being given less and less understanding. This is similar to God’s approach to Pharaoh in the Exodus (Ex 4,21; 8,32; 14,4), those who resist God will have their hard headedness amplified, as a judgment of their disbelief.  In today’s context, we grow spiritually rich when we read the Word and understand Jesus with our eyes or hear it with our ears, examine it with our minds, and allow it to penetrate our hearts, which in turn brings healing and conversion in us.

16^th Week in Ord. Time, Wednesday – 26^th July 2023 – Exodus 16,1-5.9-15; Mt 13,1-9

Being deaf to Complaints

The first reading takes place just one month after the Exodus from Egypt. By now the food that the Israelites had taken from Egypt is exhausted. They begin to complain to Moses that they had abundance of food to eat in Egypt, but now not sure of their next meal. They seem to have forgotten how God worked mighty signs and wonders. Even in the midst of their complaints, God has compassion on them and shows divine providence by providing “manna” and quail to eat. Their God is a caring God, one who is largely deaf to his people’s constant complaints, their short memories of former help and protection and their weak faith. A patient and responding God who heard their complaint and told Moses of his plan to rain down ‘bread’ from heaven every day. What is miraculous is not that manna and quail appear, but that the quantities of both which are present throughout the seasons of the year and for many years of the Israelites’ journey through the desert.