Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of Saint Bridget of Sweden, Religious
Today, Jesus is asked a question that very well could have come from any one of us: “Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?” Indeed! Why not speak plainly? Two parts of His reply clue us in to the reason. First: “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.” Second, He quotes the Prophet Isaiah: “Gross is the heart of this people…” which ultimately, He says, prevents their hearts from understanding, and thus they will not be converted and healed. The reason, then, that He speaks in parables is so that the people will all hear His teaching, but only those who love God, who are pure of heart (Matthew 5:8), will understand what the parables mean. Faith is what He is seeking, not an intellectual grasp of theological concepts. For Jesus is not seeking to educate, but to make Himself known. Thus, by speaking in parables He is revealing enough of the Truth that those who sincerely seek the truth, who love God, and who have faith will understand and come to know Him: “they see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts,” not their heads, and thus are converted and healed.
With His grace and help, may we likewise be converted and healed.