Eyes to See, Ears to Hear

In today’s gospel (MT 13:10:17), the disciples are asking Jesus why He doesn’t just speak clearly. Why does He use parables? At the end of His answer, he says,

“But blessed are your eyes because they see,

and you’re 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.”

Jesus was not just talking to His followers; He was talking to us. He was telling us that we can hear and understand the parables. We can see how they apply to us and what we must do to make them live. We can do both of these because we have seen and heard Jesus. 

Sometimes, I wish I had lived at the time of Jesus. How amazing to sit on a mountainside and listen to His teaching. How inspired my heart to watch him heal and forgive. I imagine being in the room with Jesus at the Last Supper, the First Eucharist. I even would endure the pain and the sadness of witnessing His death to see firsthand his resurrection. 

And then I catch myself, and I realize I have been given that gift of firsthand witnesses. If I believe (and I do) that Jesus has risen, and God is present intimately among us through the Holy Spirit, I best open both my eyes and my ears. God is here present, among us, for those who have eyes to see and ears to hear. The scriptures are a living document. They are not stories of long ago to remember, they are written for us who have eyes and ears today. 

Jesus is that turning point in human history. Jesus, who we can see and hear with our own eyes and ears today, changes the course of the world for all time. He is the New Covenant of God with humanity, and it is sealed with His Body and Blood. He is alive and well and living among us. Let that sink in, Jesus is alive and well and living within us.

Every time I hear an inspiring homily or read or speak words that touch hearts, I hear Jesus firsthand. Each time I see an act of selfless love and kindness, I am seeing Jesus. Each time one of our doctors, nurses, or first responders walks into work in the morning and suits up to deal with COVID19 patients, I am watching Jesus heal. Every time I go to mass, I am at the last supper. Each time I stretch out my hands and allow Jesus to enter my body through the Eucharist, I become what I receive. I become Jesus for our time,

I need to open my ears to hear, open my eyes to see, and open my heart to understand. I need to put away my cynicism and doubt and see and hear Jesus today. I need to put away my self-doubt and feelings of inadequacy and allow Jesus to touch the world through me today.

Jesus was telling us that we are on the “other side” of the New Covenant. We are on the side that sees and hears the Lord. We are on the side that is missioned to be the Lord and recognize the Lord every day. 

Amen, Amen I say to you, God is with us, we do have ears to hear and eyes to see. 

In God’s unending love,

Gwen