15th Sunday Ordinary Time – On Getting It…

The Parable of the Sower and its explanation certainly takes up ‘space’ (Matthew 13:1-3) in the first gospel.  The picture of discipleship it offers has taken on a greater prominence during my study of it this past week.

Let’s focus first on the transition between Jesus’ parable and Matthew’s application of it to his community (vv. 10-16). It’s all about seeing and perceiving and understanding; listening and hearing and understanding.

‘The reason I speak to them in parables is that “seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.”’ (v. 13)

Matthew’s question then seems to have been, “Why don’t more of our people get it?”  We might ask ourselves, “Why don’t I get it?” instead of “Why don’t they get it!” It has to do with our stubborn, rebellious hearts by which we have become idols to ourselves.

Ezekiel 12:2–3           Mortal, you are living in the midst of a rebellious house, who have eyes to see but do not see, who have ears to hear but do not hear; 3 for they are a rebellious house…

Jeremiah 5:21–23            Hear this, O foolish and senseless people, who have eyes, but do not see, who have ears, but do not hear… But this people has a stubborn and rebellious heart; they have turned aside and gone away.

I’m not presenting this to make you feel more judgmental of your self, more guilt-ridden, more full of remorse.  None of that works, anyway.

Question: What if this data describes our starting place?  We see but do not get it.   We hear but do not understand…

What might our next step be?  Hmmm?