Memorial of Saint Joachim and Saint Anne

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.”
Matthew 13:10-17

Prayer

Dear Father none of us are equal in this life yet we are all made in your image. Jesus speaks of seeing with the eyes and listening with the ears and we do all have these. Some are made deaf and mute but in their life they see far more than those who do have. The parable speaks of those who have will have more and those who have not will have less, many of us tend to think along the lines of money and goods. It seems that way doesn't it, but he goes on to speak about Isaiah's prophecy about not understanding. We see so much in this life but do not understand, we hear the same and still we are dumb. Can it be said of us too that those who listen and see will get more because they understand, than those who keep their eyes and ears shut to your ways. How often do we hear the Gospel or read it, then go and live it? May we see your word and hear your word and come to understand and receive more because we have done your will. Amen