A beautiful reflection on Mathew 13:1-17, that advocates the Blessings we have received in our Lives. And describing the great gifts The Eucharist and The Word of God

A beautiful reflection on Mathew 13:1-17, that advocates the Blessings we have received in our Lives. And describing the great gifts The Eucharist and The Word of God

Praise be to Jesus Christ

1984 Los Angeles Olympics was a proud moment for Indians. India presented the sprint queen PT Usha who was trained for years hoping a medal for the nation. In the 400m hurdles final, she performed excellent, fast and determined. The audience held their breath at the finishing time. But the Gold medal slipped from her just for a difference of 1/100^th of a second. It was also a hit for India’s Olympic dream. It was not a defeat but a cruel luck-a fraction of second that history could never rewind. The world looked with pity on this material loss. We assume people as lucky and unlucky based on the victories and failures that occur in our lives. Jesus also views this blessing and missing from another point of view.

Today’s Gospel remarks “But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell 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”. (Mt 13/16-17). 

At another instance, Jesus had commented to St. Thomas that ^“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (Jn.20/29). It is told not only to the disciples, but also to our generation. What are the opportunities that we have received to see and listen? We can name it as ‘The Eucharist’ to see and ‘The Word of God’ to listen. If Jesus claimed the blessing to the audience that is the disciples as blessed, we too are also blessed to see and hear him very much livelier…

The incarnation was the culmination of a long wait for the Redeemer. And it was a very few who lived at the time of Jesus who could experience that. But Eucharist is an assurance for this permanent accompaniment. CCC 1324 states: “The Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life. For in the Blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ Himself, Our Pasch”. Eucharist is the great gift Jesus has given and instituted promising to be with us. “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mt.28/20).  And as a result, we become a generation who are blessed to see him that many desired for. Maximillian Kolbe said: “If angels could be jealous of men, they would be so for one reason: Holy Communion”. It is not limited to just seeing, but it has a transformative power also as we are united in Him. St. Thomas Aquinas says: “The proper effect of the Eucharist is the transformation of man into God”. So, if the audience was blessed to see Jesus we are blessed to see and experience him mystically. It is the Jesus who spoke with human hears whispers through Gospel to us even now.

The Word of God is Jesus Himself. Jn1/1 states: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God”. The disciples and people of him was able to listen to the sermons of Jesus and was consoled by Him. And even Jesus spent time to privately to explain Word of God to His disciples saying, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them” (Mt.13/11). The Word of God is powerful to comfort, heal and free our soul. He guides, warns, commands, comforts us through the Word of God. St. Paul reminds us in Hebrews 4/12 “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart”.

So, reflecting over these blessings, it prompts us that we too are blessed. But again we have to be cautious of other comment by Jesus that “Though seeing, they do not see;
 though hearing, they do not hear or understand” (Mt.13/13). We are filled with abundant graces being a Christian, both spiritually and materialistically. We are fortunate to receive sacraments, listen to sermons, access to Church, consecrated and so on. If we are looking at our lives we have a good family, job, environment, education, living and much more. But are we able to recognize the great blessings that we are owing from God? Are we thankful for these blessings from Almighty? Jesus is live in Eucharist; Word of God and his presence extends to each and every individual. He lives in our hearts and it is whom we greet when we meet somebody not only just a human person. We encounter Jesus in others whom we have encountered in Eucharist and Word of God. And only if we encounter Him mystically, we can encounter him in others.

We love Jesus and listen to the Word of God when we receive enthusiastically each seed sown by my fellow being, family member, priest, religious even a child. Let us does not abandon any single piece that is soiled in our lives due to our Ego, weaknesses, carelessness, unchanged behaviours, hatred etc. Let us seek His grace and be Blessed forever.

Prayer: Jesus open my heart to receive you…