A reading from the gospel according to Matthew 13:10-17

10 The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?”
11 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.
12 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.
13 This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.
14 Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says:
You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see.
15 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.
16 “But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear.
17 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.”

Reflection: More will be given.

The gospel reading above follows immediately the parable of the sower. The Word of God is like any skill which becomes useless if unused. Take for example the skill in using a particular language. If we stop using or learning it, we will forget. On the other hand, if we keep using that language, we will become fluent in it. The same is true for sports or musical instrument. We learn more and become very good at playing sports or musical instrument by constant practice. Think also of a knife. If it is used and sharpened constantly, it will remain useful but it if unused and just kept somewhere, it will tend to rust over a period of time.

Jesus is telling us that by welcoming Him into our life and listening with understanding to His teachings, our life will be nourished and enriched by the truth and beauty of His message. Our interest in Him will increase and by constant listening to His words, more revelations are given to us. We then grow in wisdom and knowledge. However, if we reject Him or stop listening to Him, we will lose whatever we have learned from Him. We become less and less interested in Him until our heart becomes so hard that His words could no longer penetrate.

The scripture says, “For the word of God is alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12). It means the Word of God can inspire or move us to act. It gives grace to our life. It is powerful enough to transform or build us up. May we have the ears to hear the voice of Jesus, the eyes to see clearly His will for us, and the heart to understand His message.

*****

Previously, Jesus taught directly in plain language. Then in Matthew 13:1-9, Jesus, for the first time, spoke in parable. So the disciples wanted to know why (verse 10 above). At first glance, the response seems unfair that they (the disciples) have been given the secrets of the Kingdom but the crowds were not. The reason is receptivity. The disciples were willing to listen (that is why they are called disciples in the first place). The crowds, on the other hand, “look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand”.

The Jewish people, particularly the Pharisees and scribes, were suspicious and perhaps jealous of Jesus because of His growing popularity. In that situation they were in, they were not receptive to His teachings. Yes, they have already received the revelations of the Old Testament and they thought it may be enough. In other words, their heart is closed to any revelations through Jesus, the Christ. The prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled in them by their own attitude.

On the other hand, Jesus called the disciples blessed because their eyes can see and their ears can ear. They have the privilege of hearing the word of God straight from the mouth of Jesus Himself. For us in modern times, Jesus may not be around in person but we are also privileged to have the scripture handed down to us. Do we have the eyes and ears of the disciples that can see and hear Jesus speak through the bible?

*****

In the midst of Jesus’ growing ministry, He often taught the crowds through parables, simple yet profound stories drawn from everyday life. While many gathered to listen, not everyone truly understood what He was saying. His disciples noticed this and asked why He taught in such a way. His answer revealed something deeper: not all hearts are open to receive spiritual truths. Some people see and hear, yet remain unmoved, unable to grasp the meaning behind the message. That is the context of this powerful passage.

Jesus’ parables were more than storytelling. They were invitations, doorways into the mysteries of God’s kingdom. But entering those doors required more than ears to hear or eyes to see. It required a heart willing to understand. Many in the crowd heard the same words, but only a few truly received them. Why? Because the condition of the heart matters. Some hearts were distracted, hardened, or indifferent. Others were curious, open, humble, and ready to go deeper.

This reality still holds true today. Life is filled with parables including ordinary moments that carry extraordinary truths. A sunrise, a kind word, a difficult challenge, even silence can be a message from God if we are willing to perceive it. But like the crowds in Jesus’ time, many go through life seeing but not perceiving, hearing but not truly listening. The truths of life, love, and faith are hidden in plain sight but those who seek with sincerity will understand.

If you’re reading this with a desire to grow, then take heart. You are among those called to see beyond the surface. You’ve been given the opportunity to understand what many ignore. This isn’t about being more intelligent or more spiritual than others; it’s about being more willing. Willing to listen, to reflect, to change.

So treasure this gift of spiritual awareness. Don’t let it grow dull. Keep your heart open, your spirit attentive. Ask for understanding. Seek truth with humility. And remember, you are blessed not just to see or hear, but to understand. That is a rare and powerful gift.

God is speaking. His parables continue, not just in Scripture, but in your everyday life. May you be among those who recognize them and are transformed by what you receive.