“Why talk to them in parables?”

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Today’s gospel reading from Matthew 13:10-17 begins with the disciples asking Jesus, “Why do you talk to them in parables?” They are referring to the crowd that Jesus was teaching. Jesus had just told them the parable of the sower. I find this question rather puzzling because I thought that Jesus was far more effective in teaching people about the Reign of God when he told them stories or, as we call them “parables”. By the way, the Greek word for “parable” is parabole which means “placing beside”. What this means is that a parable - which could be a story, saying, riddle or proverb - is placed alongside a theme or a religious text, like “the Kingdom of God” and it helps to stimulate thought by making comparisons to real life situations. So, the thing is that this should be a good thing. It is what a good preacher or teacher should do regularly so that his teaching isn’t too airy-fairy but rather down-to-earth. For this reason, Jesus says to his disciples that he is trying to help his listeners understand what he is saying or to grow in their understanding of what “the Kingdom of God” is all about. Some will get it. As Jesus says, “For anyone who has will be given more.” Unfortunately there are also those who “will listen and listen again, but not understand, see and see again, but not perceive”. Like any teacher, Jesus can only go so far. Then it is up to his listeners. Now it isn’t a matter of intelligence or how smart you are. It is whether or not you are open to seeing things in a new way. As Jesus says about those who don’t get it, “for fear they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and be converted and healed by me.” But he says to us, “happy are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear!” This takes courage as well as faith. Do I have the courage to open myself – body, mind and heart – to what Jesus is saying when he tells a story? Am I willing to bring his teaching down-to-earth in my own situation and face up to what it means in terms of how I treat those around me? But be gentle with yourself as you do listen and reflect. We don’t always get it right. All Jesus wants is openness and honesty on our part.