Thursday 27 July 2023

Today is Thursday 27 July, in the 16th week of Ordinary time.

Tenebrae, directed by Nigel Short, sing the Shestopsalmiye from Rachmaninov’s Vespers. ‘Glory to God in the highest, and peace to God’s people on earth. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare your praise.’ As I enter into prayer today, as I enter into this conversation with the Lord, I too ask him to open my lips to speak to him, but first for an open ear to listen to him.

Slava v vyshnikh Bogu, i na zemli mir, v chelovetsekh blagovoleniye.
Gospodi, ustne moyi otverzeshi, i usta moya vozvestyat khvalu Tvoyu

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.


Matthew 13:10-17

Then the disciples came and asked him, ‘Why do you speak to them in parables?’ He answered, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. The reason I speak to them in parables is that “seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.” With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says:

“You will indeed listen, but never understand,
and you will indeed look, but never perceive.
For this people’s heart has grown dull,
and their ears are hard of hearing,
and they have shut their eyes;
so that they might not look with their eyes,
and listen with their ears,
and understand with their heart and turn—
and I would heal them.”


But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. 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.

Whether you are in the silence of a Chapel or the noise of the city, take a moment to open your eyes and ears to take in everything going on around you…

What would it be like to have another way of seeing and hearing that would enable you to perceive the Kingdom of Heaven?

As you listen again, allow your eyes to be opened to the hidden reality of the Kingdom of Heaven that is shining all around….

In these last moments, speak to God about the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven he wants to reveal to you. How might they change your way of seeing the world?

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.