10 The disciples came, and said to Jesus, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”

11 He answered them, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but it is not given to them. 12 For whoever has, to him will be given, and he will have abundance, but whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he has. 13 Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they don’t see, and hearing, they don’t hear, neither do they understand. 14 In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says,

‘By hearing you will hear,

16 “But blessed are your eyes, for they see; and your ears, for they hear. 17 For most certainly I tell you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see the things which you see, and didn’t see them; and to hear the things which you hear, and didn’t hear them.”

Matthew 13:10-17 - World English Bible

Before Jesus answered the riddle of Sower and the Seed parable, he answered a larger question: why tell stories like this at all? They confused people with their absurdity, their shades of meaning, their opaque nature. Why couldn't he just say what he meant?

Jesus answered with a proverb and a verse from Isaiah 6:9-10. He would clearly explain his teachings to his followers, but to the average listener, he would speak in a way that taxed their understanding. The outsider could only receive the message if he opened his eyes and ears; then he would have an “abundance” but, if he closed his mind to what Jesus said, that overflow would be taken away. Of course, that abundance was the Good News, the mysteries to the Kingdom of God.

Jesus taught in a way to fulfill prophecy. His parables presented the Kingdom, but people chose to close their eyes and ears, minds and hearts to the message simply because of their callous hearts. For people to understand, they needed to turn back, to repent. Metanoia, after all, lay at the core of his moral message.

Jesus concluded his answer with a beatitude. God blessed the disciples, for they saw clearly, heard attentively, and witnessed to the life they shared with the Christ. That blessing extended beyond the Passion and Resurrection until today, for he lives with us now.

Pray God opens your ears and eyes to see Christ working in your life.