THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2022 | ORDINARY TIME

Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Matthew 13:10–17

“Understand with their heart and be converted”

When Jesus was asked about the purpose of his parables, he told the disciples that knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven had been granted to you, but it will not be given to those who do not follow him.

Those who have been open to Christ's teachings will perceive even more: To anyone who has, more will be given.

Jesus' disciples have eyes and ears that are blessed because they truly see, hear, understand, and follow what Jesus taught. They respond from the heart to Christ's message.

On the contrary, those with closed hearts will be unable to penetrate the mysteries of the Kingdom: from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

The words See, hear, understand, and convert are key words in this Gospel. It is not enough to see and hear the words of God physically; one must understand and be open to change.

Reflecting on our world today, we may realize that many people also see and hear God's words and deeds but still cannot understand and follow him anymore. It is because we are living in a culture that is not shaped by the word of God but shaped very much by the culture of self, self, and self. They cannot understand and convert to Jesus because their hearts and minds are blocked by pride, closedness, and prejudice.

If we do not open to understand and change, it is easy for us to fall into the state of hardening hearts as Pharisees, who know many things but thinking in themselves that “There is no need to change.”

When I came to seminary, and at the very first meeting with my mentor, I asked him a question. Father! What can I do to become a good priest? My mentor told me that “Joseph! Knowing and understanding a lot about theology and knowledge of the Church is not enough for you to be a good priest.”

“You must be open to change, to be converted to be another Christ, be Christ’s eye, heart, and hand for others because priesthood is not about you at all; when you become another Christ, then you will be a good priest.”

The good news is that by virtue of baptism, we all became new creatures in Christ, and as St. Paul said “we become a new self, which is being renewed, for knowledge, in the image of its creator, we are all now able to understand, follow and convert our lives to Christ who lives in each of us. In other words, we are all able to be Christ-like for others.

May we be among those whom Jesus considers blessed, those who see, hear, understand, and be converted by the words of God.

Lord Jesus! may our hearts be made humble, open our minds and hearts to change, and convert us to be another Christ for others today and every single day of our lives.

May God bless us all.