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

Parables as we know, are stories that Jesus told, with a 'heavenly meaning' set alongside them, but why did he use them? Today, we believe in saying things as they are - in 'Telling it as it is!'. We believe in unvarnished truth, even if it upsets everyone or isn't the truth. But in the time of Jesus it was fashionable for religious leaders to talk in parables, and the best story-tellers developed large followings.

One of the main reasons seems to be that it helps people to remember the point of the story. We may have listened to thousands of sermons but we remember few of them. However a simple story can survive in our memory, even if we have to think through it to come to the meaning lying behind it. It also makes it easier for us to apply the meaning of what Jesus is saying when we're ready to really hear his words! 'Telling it as it is', may only apply to today, and tomorrow the situation can change, but a story can be still applicable centuries later.

Today we have a need to listen to the parables of Jesus just as much as those listeners did in Palestine centuries ago. When these stories are firmly fixed in our memories we might remember our Lord's message concerning how we are to grow in faith and how we are to spread the message of the Gospel. Who can forget the story of the lost sheep, or the lost pearl, or the lost son (the prodigal son!)? Thinking about them now can you work out what they mean? If not you can read them here - Luke 15.1-24. And what about the meaning of the Parable of the Sower, above? Are you the seed grown in good soil, producing much fruit, or at the very least are you trying to be?

Lord Jesus
we thank You for Your teaching;
for the stories that we know so well;
and for their meanings.
Help us to look beyond the story
to understand them
and apply their wisdom to our life,
Amen.