Opening Prayer
I compare the thunder of the Gospel to the athletic games and musical concerts of the world. If men strain their eyes to see wrestlers or sit in theaters to critically scrutinize the harmony of a musician, how much more should I focus on the voice that speaks from heaven in the Gospel of John?
Grant me a zeal that outweighs all earthly distractions, that I might scrutinize your Word with more critical attention than any worldly entertainment. Let the sweetness of John’s voice, more delightful than any musical harmony, soothe my soul and teach me to dwell on earth as if in heaven.
Amen.
Matthew 13:1-9
1The same day Jesus going out of the house, sat by the sea side. 2And great multitudes were gathered unto him, so that he went up into a boat and sat: and all the multitude stood on the shore. 3And he spoke to them many things in parables, saying: Behold the sower went forth to sow. 4And whilst he soweth some fell by the way side, and the birds of the air came and ate them up. 5And other some fell upon stony ground, where they had not much earth: and they sprung up immediately, because they had no deepness of earth. 6And when the sun was up they were scorched: and because they had not root, they withered away. 7And others fell among thorns: and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8And others fell upon good ground: and they brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold. 9He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
St. John Chrysostom
St. John Chrysostom compares the zeal we have for “spectators at the pagan games” with the attention we should give the Gospel. He differentiates the “musician or debater” from the man speaking from heaven with a voice more clear than thunder. Chrysostom evaluates our “clinical necessity” for scrutiny: if we listen and obey carefully, we’d dwell on earth as if it were heaven. The Gospel of the Sower confirms this; only those who give “careful attention” become the “good soil”.
Chrysostom contrasts the “closest scrutiny” people give to athletic champions and musicians with the “careful attention” owed to the voice of the Gospels. While worldly entertainment offers a fleeting harmony, the voice of the Evangelist sounds from heaven like thunder to bring eternal benefits. To listen and obey this holy voice with zeal transforms the soul’s environment, allowing one to begin dwelling on earth as if it were heaven.
“Pay closer attention to the Gospels—the voice of thunder from heaven—than you would to any earthly music or athletic champion.”
— St. John Chrysostom
Mary and the Magisterium
The voice of the Gospels is “more clear than thunder”, yet St. John Chrysostom notes it is also sweeter and more delightful than all musical harmony. Mary’s life makes this “heavenly thunder” a “soothing harmony” for the world. Her profound silence was the container that caught the thunder of the Word, tempering its awesome power into a melody that the world could bear. Her presence at the side of the Word made this “holy and awesome” voice accessible, showing that obedience allows us to dwell on earth as if it were heaven.
- Do I give "as much close attention to the Gospels" as I do to my favorite films or sports?
- Am I "good soil," or is my "spiritual infancy" keeping me from the "sweeter harmony" of Christ’s voice?
Closing Prayer
Lord God, give me a love for Your words in Scripture and a longing to hear Your voice there.
Amen.
