The Second Tuesday of Easter

Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

Sometimes Jesus’ parables and symbolic language can confuse us. However, he does not speak figuratively to confuse us. He speaks figuratively because he knows it is easier for us to comprehend worldly things than heavenly ones. Because of this, he gives us parables and symbolic comparisons as stepping stones to help us understand the spiritual truths he is speaking about. We might not always comprehend what he is telling us, but he makes it as clear as he can through the limitations of our language. Of course, the greatest symbol he gives us is not to be found in a parable, but rather in the story of his Passion, Death, and Resurrection. The cross and empty tomb are lifted up before us so that everyone has the opportunity to believe and have eternal life.

Do we accept Jesus’ testimony to the truth about heavenly things? If so, then how does that change the way we live our lives? Do our lives testify to the truth?

O Lord, may we have eternal life in you.

Amen.

Twenty-Fourth Saturday of Ordinary Time

Then his disciples asked him what the meaning of this parable might be. He answered, “Knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you; but to the rest, they are made known through parables so that they may look but not see, and hear but not understand.”

The knowledge of the mysteries of God is something we all struggle with. We believe, but don’t always understand why we believe. However, that’s what faith is, choosing to believe in something in spite of our doubts and lack of knowledge. Jesus revealed many of God’s mysteries to his disciples and they have passed this understanding onto us through the Scriptures and the traditions of the Church. The parables of Christ still challenge people today, just as much as they did when Jesus first spoke them. His explanation reminds us of the deeper meaning of all of Jesus’ words and works. We can learn a lot about ourselves through his words. Perhaps we know people who are like the seeds taken away by the birds or those who land on rocky ground. Perhaps we realize that for most of our lives we have been like the seeds among the thorns, too busy with worldly things to bear mature fruit. Some of us may be seeds living in the good soil of God’s gospel and bearing much fruit. No matter where we are at the moment, God is always within reach and willing to transplant us into His good soil. Hopefully, we have the wisdom to accept God’s offer and bear good fruit in faith, hope, and charity.

Where have we landed in this parable? If we aren’t in the good soil, then how can we get there? What are the fruits of our faith?

O Lord, plant us in your good soil.

Amen.

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.