Blessed Are Your Eyes and Ears

Blessed Are Your Eyes and Ears

Reflection on Matthew 13:10-17

In today’s Gospel, the disciples come to Jesus with a sincere question: “Why do you speak to them in parables?” It’s a question born from confusion—why does the Lord not speak plainly to everyone? Jesus responds in a way that may seem startling at first: “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.”

What is Jesus saying here? Is He excluding others from understanding the truth? Not at all. Rather, Jesus is revealing a profound spiritual reality: the heart must be open, humble, and ready to receive God’s word. Parables are not just stories to entertain or illustrate moral lessons; they are invitations. They draw us deeper—but only if we are willing to go beyond the surface.

Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah to explain that many people hear and see, but they do not truly listen or understand. Their hearts have grown dull. In other words, it is not that God withholds truth, but that some people have closed themselves off from it. This is a sobering reminder for us. We can be physically present at Mass, listen to the readings, even know the Catechism—yet still not truly hear God if our hearts are distracted, hardened, or proud.

Jesus then says something deeply encouraging to His disciples: “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear.” He reminds them that they are experiencing something prophets and righteous people longed for. And we, too, are blessed in this way. We have the fullness of the Gospel, the sacraments, the witness of the saints, and the living tradition of the Church. What an incredible gift!

But with great blessings come great responsibility. We are called not only to listen, but to live what we hear. We are invited to go beyond surface-level faith and enter into true discipleship—a relationship with Jesus that transforms every aspect of our lives. The more we open our hearts to the Word, the more we will begin to see clearly and hear rightly.

Today, let us ask ourselves: are our hearts open? Are our ears truly listening to God, or are they filled with the noise of the world? Are our eyes seeking the face of Christ in daily life, or are they distracted by passing things?

Let us not take our faith for granted. Let us be people who receive the Word with joy, ponder it in our hearts like Mary, and bear fruit in our lives.

Key Takeaway:
God continually speaks to us—but only the humble, attentive heart can truly hear. Let us strive to be people whose eyes are open, whose ears are listening, and whose hearts are ready to receive and live the Word of God.