In our first reading today Jeremiah is being told to go share a message with Jerusalem. The people of Jerusalem forgot everything God had done for them and they couldn't see God. They asked "where is the LORD," but they were not truly looking for or seeking him!
"When I brought you into the garden land to eat its goodly fruits, You entered and defiled my land, you made my heritage loathsome. The priests asked no, "Where is the LORD?" Those who dealt with the law knew me not: the shepherds rebelled against me. The prophets prophesied by Baal, and went after useless idols." Jeremiah 2:7-8 (NABRE)
In our Gospel reading today the the disciples ask Jesus why He speaks to the crowd in parables. In Matthew 13:14-15 Jesus replies referring to Isaiah's prophecy:
'You shall indeed hear but not understand
you shall indeed look but never see.
Gross is the heart of this people,
they will hardly hear with their ears,
they have closed their eyes,
lest they see with their eyes
and hear with their ears
and understand with their heart and be
converted,
and I heal them.'
Unless we truly want to hear God and we seek Him we aren't going to hear or understand what he has to say to us.
How many times in the news do you hear someone ask "where was God when all this was happening?" God is always there, we just aren't always looking for Him. We have pushed God out of our schools and our government. We can't push him aside and then all of a sudden wonder where He is? When people are asking that question, they aren't really looking for Him, they are just making statements!
Jeremiah talked about the scribes and Pharisees missing the point. They knew the law inside and out, yet they missed God in it all. They didn't open their hearts to God and His message.
I think about all those people I went to high school and college with who did amazing in school but struggled in the real world. They may have gotten great grades but couldn't apply anything they learned. We often refer to these people as being "book" smart. What good does all that knowledge do if you can't internalize and apply it? This is what was happening with the scribes and Pharisees in Jeremiah.
In the Gospel reading we see much of the same. We can't just see with our eyes, we have to open up our hearts. We must contemplate and internalize what God is saying. We have to see with faith and humility or we won't get it. It is the saddest thing to see someone go to church weekly but never be changed by the message. They hear it but don't allow it to take hold of them, they don't see and understand with their heart and therefore, don't really understand.
I binge watched the series Friday Night Lights on Netflix one month and before games the football team would shout "clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose." When we look to God with our eyes wide open and allow Him to fill our hearts, we can't lose. We will see what He wants us to see, hear what He wants us to hear and experience his love, mercy and grace!
Truly Seek him and you will find Him!
When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13 (NABRE)
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