July 12

Pop Quiz! Why did Jesus speak in parables?

When I was younger, I always thought the entire point of the parables was to take complicated teachings and make them understandable through the use of stories. If that was your answer, you get partial credit. Let’s take another look at the heart of this Sunday’s gospel.

“The disciples approached him and said, “Why do you speak to them 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.”

Jesus used parables to as a way to make difficult teachings more understandable to those open to him, while—at the same time—confounding those whose hearts were (and are) closed to him.

How do we know this?

Jesus goes on, “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.”

Furthermore, he ends with the parable of the sower.

“The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit. But the seed sown on rich soil is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.”

May we all be open to the Lord and what he might be telling us.

Questions? Comments? Email David at dlins@oloj.org.