"Madamo nga mga propeta kag matarong nga mga tawo sang una ang naghandom nga makakita kag makabati sang inyo nakita kag nabatian karon"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 13:10-17)

Dayon nagpalapit kay Jesus ang iya mga sumulunod kag nagpamangkot. "Ngaa nagahambal ka sa mga tawo paagi sa mga paanggid?"

Nagsabat si Jesus sa ila, "Ang mga sekreto parte sa paghari sang Dios ginasugid sa inyo nga maintiendihan ninyo, pero sa iban wala ginasugid nga maintiendihan nila.

Kay ang tawo nga nagatipig sang iya nabatian nga kamatuoran pagahatagan pa gid sang pag-intiendi, kag madamo gid ang idugang sa iya. Pero ang tawo nga wala nagatipig sang iya nabatian nga kamatuoran, bisan ang diutay nga iya naitiendihan, kuhaon pa sa iya.

Gani nagahambal ako sa ila paagi sa mga paanggid tungod kay nagatulok sila pero indi makakita, kag nagapamati sila pero indi makaintiendi.

Gani natuman sa ila ang ginsiling sang Dios paagi sa propeta nga si Isaias, 'Sige lang kamo pamati pero indi kamo makaintiendi. Sige lang kamo tulok pero indi kamo makakita.

Tungod kay matig-a ang ulo sang mga tawo nga ini. Gintakpan nila ang ila mga dulonggan, kag ginpiyong nila ang ila mga mata. Kay basi makakita sila kag makabati, kag makaintiendi kag magliso sa akon, kag ayuhon ko sila.'

Pero bulahan kamo nga nagasunod sa akon, kay nakakita kamo kag nakabati.

Sa pagkamatuod, madamo nga mga propeta kag matarong nga mga tawo sang una ang naghandom nga makakita kag makabati sang inyo nakita kag nabatian karon, pero wala natabo ini sa ila tiyempo."

Prayers:

"Holy Spirit, be my teacher and guide. Open my ears to hear God's word and open my eyes to understand God's action in my life. May my heart never grow dull and may my ears never tire of listening to the voice of Christ."

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Reflection of the Daily Gospel: 

Do you want to grow in your knowledge of God? Saint Augustine of Hippo once said: "I believe, in order to understand; and I understand, the better to believe." Both faith and understanding are gifts of the Holy Spirit that enable us to hear God's word with clarity so we can know God better and grow in the knowledge of his love and truth. Jesus, however, had to warn his disciples that not everyone would understand his teaching. The prophet Isaiah had warned that some would hear God's word, but not believe, some would see God's actions and miracles, and remained unconvinced. Ironically some of the greatest skeptics of Jesus' teaching and miracles were the learned scribes and Pharisess who prided themselves on their knowledge of scripture and the law of Moses. They heard Jesus' parables and saw the great signs and miracles which he performed, but they refused to accept both Jesus and his message. How could they "hear and never understand" and "see but never perceive"? They were spiritually blind and deaf because their hearts were closed and their minds were blocked by pride and prejudice. How could a man from Galilee, the supposed son of a carpenter, know more about God and his word, than these experts who devoted their lives to study and teaching?

There is only one thing that can open a closed, confused, and divided mind – a broken heart and humble spirit! The word disciple means one who is willing to learn and ready to submit to the wisdom and truth which comes from God. Psalm 119 expresses the joy and delight of a disciple who loves God's word and who embraces it with trust and obedience. "Oh, how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation." (Psalm 119:97-99)

God can only reveal the secrets of his kingdom to the humble and trusting person who acknowledges their need for God and for his truth. The parables of Jesus will enlighten us if we approach them with an open mind and heart, ready to let them challenge us. If we approach God's word with indifference, skepticism, and disbelief, then we, too, may "hear but not understand" and "see but not perceive." God's word can only take root in a receptive heart that is ready to believe and willing to submit. If we want to hear and to understand God's word, we must listen with reverence and faith. Do you believe God's word and do you submit to it with trust and reverence?

Jerome, an early church bible scholar who lived between 342-419 AD, wrote: "You are reading [the scriptures]? No.Your betrothed is talking to you. It is your betrothed, that is, Christ, who is united with you. He tears you away from the solitude of the desert and brings you into his home, saying to you, 'Enter into the joy of your Master.'"