• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province

The Love that Compels

  • Online Masses
    • Passionist Online Masses and Services
  • 300th Jubilee
    • Opening Mass of the Passionist Jubilee Year
    • Video: 300th Jubilee – English
    • Video: Jubileo Pasionista – Español
    • Jubilee Icon Itinerary
    • Jubilee Resources
    • Jubilee Song
  • Pray
    • Lent 2021
    • Daily Reflections
    • Prayer Request
    • Sunday Homily
    • Passionist Spirituality and Prayer
    • Stations of the Cross
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
  • Grow
    • Journey into the Mystery of Christ Crucified
    • Celebrating the Feast of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Subscribe to E-News
    • Passionist Magazine
      • Passionist Magazine, Spring 2020
    • Passionist Ministries
      • Preaching
      • Hispanic Ministry
      • Haiti
      • Parish Life
      • Earth and Spirit Center
      • Education
      • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Retreat Centers
    • Passionist Solidarity Network
    • Vision Fulfillment Newsletters
    • Sacred Heart Monastery
      • History of Sacred Heart Monastery
      • A Day in the Life of Senior Passionists
      • “Pillars” of the Community
  • Join
    • Nicholas Divine, CP, Ordination to the Diaconate
    • Are You Being Called?
    • Discerning Your Call
    • Pray With Us
    • Passionist Vocation Directors
    • Lay Partnerships
  • Connect
    • Find a Passionist
    • Passionist Websites
    • Fr. Cedric Pisegna, CP, Live with Passion!
    • Passionist Alumni Association
      • Reunions
      • 2019 Passionist Alumni Reunion
      • Welcome
      • Letter from the Provincial
        • These Men We Call Our Brothers
      • Mission Statement
      • CrossRoads Bulletin
      • Alumni Enrollment Form
        • Alumni Survey
      • Reunion Photo Gallery
  • Support
    • Donate
    • Monthly Giving
    • Leave a Legacy
      • Giving Matters
      • Ways to Give
      • Donor Relations
      • Testimonials
    • Prayer and Seasonal Cards
    • Privacy Policy Statement
  • Learn
    • Our Founder
    • History
    • The Letters of St. Paul of the Cross
    • The Diary of St. Paul of the Cross
    • Mission and Charism
    • Saints and Blesseds
    • FAQs
    • Find a Passionist
    • STUDIES IN PASSIONIST HISTORY AND SPIRITUALITY
  • Safe Environments

Daily Scripture, July 23, 2009

Scripture:

Exodus 19:1-2, 9-11, 16-20b
Matthew 13:10-17

Reflection:

In today’s Gospel reading, the disciples ask Jesus, "Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?" In response, Jesus says, "Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted…This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen and understand."

All this begs a question. If the disciples were given knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, why were Jesus’ parables handed down through the centuries to disciples like us? Could it be that there are times when we look but do not see, or hear, but do not listen?

A case in point is another verse in our Gospel passage. Jesus says, "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." That sounds a lot like "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer." There is a temptation, I think, to read Jesus’ words and take them one of two ways. One is to somehow see Jesus approving of the rich getting richer. Another way is to see Jesus resigned to the harsh  reality of how the world works. But Jesus is not talking about material wealth here. He is talking about the desire to know and understand more deeply the "mysteries of the kingdom." Those who seek more will be given more.

And so I don’t agree with those interpreters of the Gospel who see material wealth as the sign of God’s blessing. As the hymn says, "The Lord hears the cries of the poor." I also don’t believe Christians are to be resigned to the injustices and sins that lead people to stay in poverty. The status quo is not the kingdom of God.

As long as there is the temptation to close our eyes and our ears to the challenges of the Gospel, we will need to hear the parables Jesus tells us. But we need not despair. God’s love and grace has been granted to us in Jesus, and in Him, we can grow in knowledge and wisdom, and be better able to share the Good News. 

 

Fr. Phil Paxton, C.P. is pastor of Holy Family Parish, Fairfield, Alabama.

Footer

Facebook Feed

Support the Passionists

Contact the Passionists

The Passionists of Holy Cross Province
660 Busse Highway | Park Ridge, IL 60068
Tel: 847.518.8844 | Toll-free: 800.295.9048 | Fax: 847.518.0461
Safe Environments | Board Member Portal | Copyright © 2021 | Log in