We can experience Heaven here on earth because of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Through the gift of the Holy Spirit we are able to see, touch, feel the presence of the Lord our God; even listen to His voice as we live out our daily lives.
Why then are so many still oblivious to this fact? Why do their faith come and go like leaky cisterns? Why then are many are serving dutifully in Church to fulfil an obscure sense of duty to the Lord our God; rather than doing so with hope of glorifying him by their joyful service of Him and brethren? Why are so many still not in community to praise, honour, worship and listen attentively to Him through His Word building His Kingdom together?
Let us ask ourselves how have we grown in faith, love and our relationship with Jesus and one another? Are we living a life in the Spirit?
Jesus our loving Lord, source of all life; You offer us the wellspring of living water and so we cry out to You as the woman at the well did. “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” Jn 4:15
Amen
First reading
Jeremiah 2:1-3,7-8,12-13 ·
I brought you to a fertile country and you defiled it
The word of the Lord was addressed to me, saying, ‘Go and shout this in the hearing of Jerusalem:
‘“The Lord says this:
I remember the affection of your youth,
the love of your bridal days:
you followed me through the wilderness,
through a land unsown.
Israel was sacred to the Lord,
the first-fruits of his harvest;
anyone who ate of this had to pay for it,
misfortune came to them –
it is the Lord who speaks.”
‘I brought you to a fertile country
to enjoy its produce and good things;
but no sooner had you entered than you defiled my land,
and made my heritage detestable.
The priests have never asked, “Where is the Lord?”
Those who administer the Law have no knowledge of me.
The shepherds have rebelled against me;
the prophets have prophesied in the name of Baal,
following things with no power in them.
‘You heavens, stand aghast at this,
stand stupefied, stand utterly appalled
– it is the Lord who speaks.
Since my people have committed a double crime:
they have abandoned me,
the fountain of living water,
only to dig cisterns for themselves,
leaky cisterns
that hold no water.’
Gospel
Matthew 13:10-17
Prophets and holy men longed to hear what you hear
The disciples went up to Jesus and asked, ‘Why do you talk to them in parables?’ ‘Because’ he replied, ‘the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven are revealed to you, but they are not revealed to them. For anyone who has will be given more, and he will have more than enough; but from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. So in their case this prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled:
You will listen and listen again, but not understand,
see and see again, but not perceive.
For the heart of this nation has grown coarse,
their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes,
for fear they should see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their heart,
and be converted
and be healed by me.
‘But happy are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! I tell you solemnly, many prophets and holy men longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.’
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