Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

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.

Jesus often spoke in parables to the people of his time and to us even now through the Scriptures we read. He does so because parables are not only more entertaining than lectures, but also because they require the listeners to use their imagination and their intellect to understand. Only those who are truly interested in finding out the truth will take the time to discern the meaning of the parables he presents. Those who don't will simply think them silly stories and nothing more. But those who seek the Truth, will want to understand what Jesus is saying so they can live more meaningful and better lives. This is why it is so important to take time to really delve into and meditate upon the parables Jesus gives us. They will reveal truth to us if we let them and lead us to eternal life once we live out their teachings.

Do we take time to really understand the parables we hear and read? How can we do a better job of listening and meditating upon these stories of our faith? What parables speak most directly to our hearts and minds right now?

O Lord, show us the true meaning of your parables so we can become better people in thought, word, and deed.

Amen.