Prophecy Fulfilled

The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Why do you speak to the crowd in parables? "He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted. To anyone who has, more will be given and he will grow rich; from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.

Isaiah’s prophecy is fulfilled in them, which says: 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 hearts and be converted and I heal them. “But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to 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.” (Matthew 13:10-17)

Isaiah was right.  His prophecy continues to be fulfilled.  Many of us are characterized by Isaiah’s conclusion: “You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see.” 

Many of us hardly hear with our ears; we have closed our eyes. To what we may ask?  To the truth of our failings to resist discrimination, prejudice, and hatred and to stop acting like crowds of sheep following bad leaders and liars.  

Jesus can heal us when we see with our eyes; hear with our ears; and understand with our hearts.  Otherwise, we and our nation will continue to be ill and full of woes.

Deacon David Pierce