Understanding

Today’s Gospel Text: "Hear then the parable of the sower. 19 When any one hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is he who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the delight in riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is he who hears the word and understands it; he indeed bears fruit, and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty." Matt 13:18-23

Reflection: Some people are able to quote scripture at will, even citing the chapter and verse.

That’s an envious situation for many, if not impressive.

Those impressed by it desire that they too would want to do it; quoting scripture text at will, along with the chapter and verses.

In my experience of life; I have not always been impressed by such an activity.

There have been moments when someone has quoted it because one has memorized it deliberately, so as to impress.

They do impress, as men, having a good memory and healthy mind and nothing more, but only a fool will get carried away by their exposition.

This in no way takes away from the many who quote because the mind speaks with the grace and anointing that comes with the help of the Holy Spirit. 

Knowing the difference, I often have to correct people who are generally impressed and express their desire to memorize scripture.

I tell them not to do so but instead the approach they need to have towards scripture is not that of memorizing but that of understanding and trying to make it their own first. 

This should be done in an atmosphere of humble prayer.

And thus if grace permits them to remember and to quote in situations and circumstances, in their teachings and instructions, then it will add beauty to such noble activities.

In the parable Jesus indirectly highlights the difference between the mere stocking of our brains with  either knowledge or understanding.

We should aim at understanding the word, then will Satan not be able to take away the word from us but if we instead seek to store it as knowledge then he will be able to take it away from us and much more; the word along with the anointing that accompanies his word. 

Prayer: Through thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Ps 119:104-105

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Turn over to the Lord

Today’s Gospel Text:  Again he began to teach beside the sea. And a very large crowd gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat in it on the sea; and the whole crowd was beside the sea on the land. 2 And he taught them many things in parables, and in his teaching he said to them: 3 "Listen! A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. 5 Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it had not much soil, and immediately it sprang up, since it had no depth of soil; 6 and when the sun rose it was scorched, and since it had no root it withered away. 7 Other seed fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. 8 And other seeds fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." 9 And he said, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

10 And when he was alone, those who were about him with the twelve asked him concerning the parables. 11 And he said to them, "To you has been given the secret of the kingdom of God, but for those outside everything is in parables; 12 so that they may indeed see but not perceive, and may indeed hear but not understand; lest they should turn again, and be forgiven." 13 And he said to them, "Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? 14 The sower sows the word. 15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown; when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word which is sown in them. 16 And these in like manner are the ones sown upon rocky ground, who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with joy; 17 and they have no root in themselves, but endure for a while; then, when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately they fall away. 18 And others are the ones sown among thorns; they are those who hear the word, 19 but the cares of the world, and the delight in riches, and the desire for other things, enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. 20 But those that were sown upon the good soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it and bear fruit, thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold." Mark 4:1-20

Reflection: If only people knew that the secrets that are revealed concerning the parables can continue to remain secrets despite the explanation.

That’s because we confuse between knowing and understanding. What we know now, through the explanation which Jesus gives is not the same as understanding them.

If by now you are already feeling confused, then it is an indication of the mental state in which we are which refuses to understand as it is to be understood; for what the mind prefers is that understanding which is knowing and hence not really understanding as it is to be understood. 

To understand is a painful process involving a dying of ourselves. 

Our power of understanding gets further developed in the light of the wisdom of God, in his presence, when Christ Jesus removes the scales of blindness.

Hence, when we learn theology and even become a master with a doctorate, what we actually gain is merely knowledge unless the scales are removed from our eyes by God’s mercy at work through all who believe in him and his love.

Hence asserting this truth, St. Paul writes thus: “Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their minds; but when a man turns to the Lord the veil is removed.” 2 Cor 3:15-16

Now a man who lacks understanding may say; “that is meant for the Jews and not to us.” 

Certainly true that this word is concerning the Jews but equally valid to us who behave either like them or even worse than them by not turning to the Lord; the only means to come out of our dullness of understanding. 

Prayer: Lord, help me to train my mind to turn to you, even when I study or learn the things of you and thus learn of you.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Blameless Heart

Today’s Gospel Text: Philip found Nathan'a-el, and said to him, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." 46 Nathan'a-el said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 Jesus saw Nathan'a-el coming to him, and said of him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" 48 Nathan'a-el said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." 49 Nathan'a-el answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered him, "Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these." 51 And he said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man." John 1:45-51

Reflection: It’s good to ask questions and enquire about a problem before arriving at decisions.

So often in life people arrive at decision making without asking relevant questions or they may ask the wrong kind of questions in order to arrive at wrong kind of knowledge.

But the one thing to be always kept in mind is the human limitations of arriving at the right answers always, especially when it comes to the truth of God.

In the Gospel we have Philip approaching Nathanael with a proposition:"We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph." (vs. 45)

Philip had done his homework well, he knew the scriptures and knew the background of Jesus of Nazareth, as the son of Joseph. Perhaps he knew a little more than what he was revealing to Nathanael!

Nathanael had an equally relevant question to ask Philip, it was in every way a scriptural question, which may have flummoxed many an experts in Israel. 

The only difference may have been is this; that Nathanael may have asked this question in all sincerity without any guile: "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" (vs. 46)

It now seems clear that these were honest seekers, sincere in their approach. God never disappoints a sincere seeker, who is really interested in knowing the truth and following it.

According to the John’s Gospel, Nathanael seems to be the first to recognize Jesus as the ‘Son of God’ 

We too need to ask God for the same disposition of heart as Nathanael, whose feast we celebrate today.

Prayer: May my heart be blameless in thy statutes, that I may not be put to shame! Ps 119:80

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us