7/23/2026 (Thursday) Today’s Gospel reading: 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.”

7/23/2026 (Thursday) Today’s Gospel reflection / homily / sermon: Matthew 13:10-17

In this Gospel narrative, the disciples ask Jesus why He often teaches the crowds through parables instead of speaking plainly. Jesus explains that while everyone hears His words, not everyone truly understands them. The difference is not in the message but in the condition of the listener’s heart. Those who sincerely seek God receive deeper understanding, while those who remain closed become spiritually blind and deaf. Jesus reminds His disciples how blessed they are because they have been given the grace to recognize God’s work before their very eyes.

A simple way to remember this message is through the word SPEAK.

S – Seek God with a sincere heart.
Understanding God’s will begins with a humble desire to know Him. The disciples did not pretend to know everything; they asked questions because they genuinely wanted to learn. God gladly reveals His wisdom to those who seek Him with honesty, humility, and perseverance. A searching heart is a teachable heart.

P – Prepare your heart to receive His Word.
A seed can only grow in prepared soil. Likewise, God’s message bears fruit only in a heart that is open and willing to change. Pride, resentment, distractions, and stubbornness can prevent God’s truth from taking root. Every day, we should ask the Lord to soften our hearts so His Word can transform our thoughts, attitudes, and actions.

E – Engage your ears and eyes with faith.
Many people can hear the same sermon or witness the same miracle, yet respond differently. Faith allows us to see God’s hand where others see only ordinary events. It enables us to hear His gentle guidance amid the noise of daily life. Spiritual understanding comes not merely from intelligence but from trusting God.

A – Act on what you understand.
Knowledge without obedience produces little fruit. Every lesson from God invites a response. As we practice forgiveness, kindness, generosity, and faithfulness, our understanding deepens even more. God entrusts greater wisdom to those who faithfully live according to the light they have already received.

K – Keep growing in spiritual wisdom.
The Christian journey is a lifelong process of learning. No one ever graduates from being a disciple. Every prayer, every Scripture reading, every trial, and every act of love teaches us something new about God. As we continue walking with Him, our spiritual vision becomes clearer, and our hearts become more sensitive to His voice.

The Gospel reminds us that God is always speaking, but the real question is whether we are truly listening. His truth is not hidden from those who sincerely desire Him. When our hearts remain humble, open, and obedient, ordinary moments become opportunities to encounter God’s presence. The Lord still SPEAKS today, not only through Scripture but also through people, circumstances, silence, and the quiet movements of the Holy Spirit. Let us become listeners whose lives proclaim the message we have received.

Go here to read further Gospel reflection.