Word to the Wise
Thursday, July 21, 2022 - Thursday in the 16th Week in Ordinary Time
[Jer 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13 and Matt 13:10-17]The disciples approached Jesus and said, "Why do y0u speak to the crowds 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." [Matthew]
If there is one characteristic of Jesus' teaching that stands out ahead of all others, it would be the use of parables. These are images taken from real life to convey a deeper message. Jesus was not the only teacher of his time to use parables, but his use carried points essential to his identity and message. Some would "get" the message and others would not. Those who did became disciples. The parable of the seed and the sower, which formed yesterday's gospel (I chose to consider Jeremiah) would be an example. Some seed falls on good ground and some falls on ground that cannot support growth.
In today's gospel passage, Jesus quotes Isaiah to the effect that some people simply do not want to hear a message that would require them to change their ways of living and acting and worshiping. A parable is not a direct statement but an image that invites reflection. Those who "get it" may find their way to discipleship, but others may simply dismiss the image as a riddle that doesn't matter. Parables are like the seed that is sown. What kind of ground are we? AMEN