The WORD
today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/072717.cfm)
reminds me to be aware and conscious of the state of my heart.
When we have visitors, we
almost always clean the house. Not that we don’t clean the house on a normal
day, we do. But cleaning is different when we are expecting visitors,
especially important ones. We take extra effort to have the house ready the
best way possible. We bring out special plates, utensils and things that we
don’t use on a regular day. In as much as we do this preparation for special
guests, we should also do the same with our hearts.
The state of
our heart affects the intensity and effectiveness of God’s presence in our
lives.
In
the gospel, we see that the people did not understand what Jesus was saying
because of the state of their hearts. They hear what Jesus says and see his actions. But they
do not understand because of their hearts. We see this a lot in the gospels.
Jesus heals people and preaches to people, but not all are ready and willing to
accept him. Same message, same person delivering the message, different effects
– because of different states of their hearts.
We should check our hearts. We
might be so busy and so caught up in the world that we do not have time to
check our hearts. We may not realize it, but our hearts may not be fit anymore
to hear and receive God. He has been talking to us, he has been making his
presence alive and real. This effort from him is constant. But if we don’t feel
it, then probably something’s wrong. If we are always worried and depressed,
then we are definitely not getting God’s promise of peace and abundance. We may
not be hearing God’s word. Our hearts may not be in a proper disposition to
welcome him.
May
we never neglect to check our hearts, and always do our best by constant prayer
and making the most out of the sacrament of reconciliation to clean our hearts
and ready it to receive God.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another chance to love
and serve you. thank you for the reminder. Lord, I am sorry for being so busy
with the world that I don’t remember you. sorry for neglecting the state of my
heart that causes me not to hear and feel you. help me do my best to keep it
clean, to constantly pray and confess and try to live right so I would always
be ready and sensitive to you. Help me do my part and prepare for you. amen.
Blessed
day!
In
Christ,
-g-
Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 398
Reading 1EX 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20B
on its first day, the children of Israel came to the desert of Sinai.
After the journey from Rephidim to the desert of Sinai,
they pitched camp.
While Israel was encamped here in front of the mountain,
the LORD told Moses,
"I am coming to you in a dense cloud,
so that when the people hear me speaking with you,
they may always have faith in you also."
When Moses, then, had reported to the LORD the response of the people,
the LORD added, "Go to the people
and have them sanctify themselves today and tomorrow.
Make them wash their garments and be ready for the third day;
for on the third day the LORD will come down on Mount Sinai
before the eyes of all the people."
On the morning of the third day
there were peals of thunder and lightning,
and a heavy cloud over the mountain,
and a very loud trumpet blast,
so that all the people in the camp trembled.
But Moses led the people out of the camp to meet God,
and they stationed themselves at the foot of the mountain.
Mount Sinai was all wrapped in smoke,
for the LORD came down upon it in fire.
The smoke rose from it as though from a furnace,
and the whole mountain trembled violently.
The trumpet blast grew louder and louder, while Moses was speaking
and God answering him with thunder.
When the LORD came down to the top of Mount Sinai,
he summoned Moses to the top of the mountain.
Responsorial PsalmDANIEL 3:52, 53, 54, 55, 56
"Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
And blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages."
R. Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and glorious above all forever."
R. Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you on the throne of your Kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever."
R. Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever."
R. Glory and praise for ever!
"Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever."
R. Glory and praise for ever!
AlleluiaSEE MT 11:25
Blessed are you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth;
you have revealed to little ones the mysteries of the Kingdom.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelMT 13:10-17
"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."
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