Word to the Wise
Friday, January 27, 2012 - Friday in the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time
[2 Sam 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17 and Mark 4:26-34]With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.
Parables are one of the principal features of Jesus' preaching. They are usually images taken from the experience of the audience that illustrate the way in which the grace of God works in human affairs. Most of Jesus' parables are composed of images taken from the lives of peasant farmers or herders or fishermenl. The two in today's gospel are examples. The first describes the ordinary life of the farmer and the second the ordinary process of development from seed to plant. The difference is that Jesus is no ordinary farmer and the Kingdom of God is no ordinary seed. Nevertheless, the process begins with something very small that has the potential to become something very large. When I look at the difference in size between a tomato seed and the tomato plant, the message becomes very clear.
What does one do who has neither a "green thumb," nor experience with farm animals like sheep or with fishing boats? Parables like "the Prodigal Son" and "the Good Samaritan" (both in the Gospel of Luke) can help. It may be that one will have to find parables in one's own life that illustrate the way the Kingdom of God is working! When we are challenged to "give a reason for the hope that is in us" [1 Peter 3:15], we don't have to reply with a quote from the catechism or even from the scripture. We can tell a parable. It might concern urban life or life at school. The idea, as noted in the quote above, is to explain the faith to people as they are able to understand it. There was a good reason for Jesus to use parables. Maybe we should follow his example! AMEN