💖 HOMILY - JULY 24 💖

First Reading - Exodus 19:1-2,9-11,16-20

Gospel - Matthew 13:10-17

One of the great mysteries of our faith is that God desires to reveal Himself — but not to overwhelm, not to force, and never to manipulate. He reveals Himself to those who are open, prepared, and willing to receive Him. Today's readings remind us that divine revelation is a gift, but it is also a responsibility.

In the first reading from Exodus, we see Israel at the foot of Mount Sinai. After being freed from slavery, the people are brought to a moment of encounter. God is about to reveal Himself. But it requires preparation. The people must be cleansed. They must be attentive. They must be ready, for “on the third day the Lord will come down upon Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.” When the day comes, it is accompanied by thunder, lightning, and a thick cloud. God’s presence is overwhelming — holy and majestic. And the people tremble. The mountain shakes, and yet God speaks. Revelation comes, but it is not casual. It requires awe, reverence, and readiness.

In the Gospel, Jesus explains to His disciples why He speaks in parables. He says something surprising: that not everyone is able to understand. The parables are not puzzles meant to confuse, but invitations to listen deeply. They separate the indifferent from the sincere, the distracted from the attentive. Jesus quotes the prophet Isaiah, saying that some have closed their eyes and hardened their hearts. But to the disciples — those who have followed, listened, and opened their hearts — Jesus says: “Blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.”

The message is clear: God’s truth is not hidden from us, but it is not forced upon us either. It is given to those who are ready, those who desire to see and to hear.

This speaks to us today. We live in a world full of noise, opinions, and distractions. The Word of God is still being spoken, but are we listening? Are we attentive? Or have we, like the people Isaiah describes, become dull of hearing and blind to the presence of God in our midst?

To receive revelation — whether in prayer, in Scripture, in the Eucharist, or in daily life — requires a heart that is humble and expectant. Like Israel at Sinai, we must be prepared. Like the disciples, we must be willing to ask questions, to listen carefully, and to accept the truth even when it challenges us.

God reveals Himself to those who are ready — not perfect, but open. Not all-knowing, but hungry. The mountain still shakes, the Word still speaks, the mystery still unfolds — for those who are willing to see and hear.

Let us ask for the grace of attentiveness. Let us prepare our hearts with reverence and silence. And let us not take for granted what so many longed to see and hear. Blessed are we, if we listen.

May our eyes be open and our hearts ready to receive the living God.