In his answer to the disciples’ question in today’s Gospel, Jesus makes a distinction between those who hear his preaching and those “granted to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven”. In giving the why he cites Isaiah.
The one who looks but does not see is responsible for his blindness. The one who hears but does not understand is at fault for his deafness. That’s me!
The greatest obstacle to self-evangelization is hardness of heart. I have to live in a state of continuous conversion to see, hear and understand the Gospel message, to apply the proper remedy for softening my heart. Prayer is what does it, especially taken in large doses. It keeps my heart dilated to welcome the Lord.
Because Jesus wishes to realize his work in me, I can be “blessed”, that is happy, and my happiness finds its expression in a continuous state of thanksgiving for all that I have received.