Thoughts for the Day

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the lake. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!’.....

‘Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Jesus teaches the people using parables. The word 'parable' means to 'throw alongside'. We might say it's a story, often of an everyday event, which holds a truth alongside it to teach us something. Another explanation often used is 'an earthly story with a heavenly meaning'. However, we should hold onto the fact that the Greek word for 'parable' is 'masal' which also includes words of wisdom, parables, and riddles.

Using parables makes sense, for we remember stories and sayings better than theological arguments. Think of a recent sermon that you've heard. What do you remember of it? It's likely to be a story or an illustration. Once we have this in mind we can then work back to the meaning of the sermon. Most parables also have one main point, so it's easier on our memory. They make truth concrete. But a warning, a parable is not an allegory. In an allegory every part of the story has a meaning and it is written to be read, whereas a parable is to be heard and has one point, so not all the parts have to be explained.

A quick look at the Parable of the Sower above, will show you how Jesus used his voice to speak of an everyday scene to explain something else. Notice the repetition of 'listen', 'ears', and 'hear'. The parable uses the ordinary event from the fields to speak of what happens when God's truth is heard and grows root in the life of a person. The question for us is, are we the one who hears and understands the message and grows good fruit in our life?

Lord Jesus Christ,
we thank you for Your use of parables:
for stories which we have heard again and again.
May we look once more at their meanings,
and apply them to our own life.
May the Parable of the Sower
continue to teach us,
and may we learn to understand Your word
and grow good fruit in our life.
Amen.