See beyond seeing, hear beyond hearing

This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says:
‘You shall indeed hear but never understand,
and you shall indeed see but never perceive.
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.’
But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Matt 13:13-16

O Lord, keep my eyes & ears open at the deeper level. CS Lewis calls it the “deeper religion” & he calls atheism “glib and superficial rationalism”. All this is explained by this passage Jesus shared with us. Keep my senses open to receive that examination of inner self/awareness of Your Spirit which is so reality based & life refreshing.

Lord, the attempts of those You talk about are unsuccessful in fulfilling the need of the heart. They search here and there, looking in their own strength and doing in their own strength things to fill that inner void of the heart. Unfortunately it only results in keeping people’s hearts dull and lifeless according to Jesus’ words. Where life once was, dullness now resides and so after many attempts and many failings, they have closed off their hearts to protect themselves from further hurt. They have stopped striving and searching and asking. Their ears are heavy of hearing says Jesus – The world says, “Try this”, “Do this..”, and none of it satisfies the soul. They have closed their eyes, Jesus says. It is easier to shut the inner life out thus denying the turmoil. Closed eyes results in filling their days with the superficial hence suppressing the need of the inner life.

I pray, O Lord, out of Your loving kindness, give them strength to search their hearts and ask for You so Your love through the Holy Spirit and Your renewal through the cleansing blood of Jesus will give them life once again.