First Reading: Jer 2:1-3. 7-8. 12-13; Psalm: 36 R. v. 10a; Gospel: Mt 13:10-17

DISPOSITION TO REPENTANCE

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

“For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them” (Mt 13:15).

Sometimes we are the reason the Word of God does not bear fruit in us. Our disposition is key if we want the reverse to happen. Indisposition is a mental shutdown to matters we consider so irrelevant. It is just like navigating through the channels of TV stations. There will always be that channel that puts us off or that we are blatantly not interested in. If anything is happen there, it will not rattle our concern or make any sense to us. Indisposition is like a fog on the glass. It is a blinder to what lies before us.

This was the sickness of some group of Pharisees who remained dull and cold-hearted to the message preached by Jesus. They fought the gospel and did not allow it to purge off their stubborn and comfortable sinful attitudes. Although Jesus chastised them severally to stimulate a change of heart but all to no avail. The grace of God does not work in a heart that is not open to new truths.

Our openness to allow the gospel message to purge off some complacent sinful attitudes in us is necessary for our salvation. But this cannot happen if we are indisposed to allow the light of the gospel to shine on those dark places. Recall that moment we felt so uncomfortable about a passage of the scripture that we completely and consciously try to shove it aside. Do we remember? Why did we do that? Could it be that we are shying away from something that God wants us to look at? Moments like this are times we need to stop wrestling repentance and allow God to come in and beautify our lives.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Lord Jesus, grant us the docility to listen and to keep your Word. Amen.