Then the disciples came and asked him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” He answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. The reason I speak to them in parables is that ‘seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.’
With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: ‘You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn— and I would heal them.’
But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Growing up I was blessed to have the opportunity to grow in my faith in Spanish. I first learned all my prayers in Spanish, attended Mass in Spanish and my CCD lessons were taught in Spanish. It was not until high school where it switched to bilingual studies of theology and religion classes. There is something about communicating with God in Spanish that’s different than when I’m doing it in English. Spanish brings me deeper in contemplation and worship than I can get in English.
I bring all this up because Jesus used parables as his teaching tool to reach his audience. Jesus gave clear and precise illustrations to which his audience could relate. We all find ourselves in different stages of faith and understanding in our lives. There is no one correct way of worshipping. Jesus speaks in parables to lead us to think and to get involved in history from our own life experiences. It makes our experience lead us to discover that God is present in our daily life.
How do I learn the mysteries of the kingdom of God?
—Maria Elena Juarez is the Assistant Director of Marketing and Events for the Midwest Jesuits, a proud alum of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School and Xavier University.
Juntos, como hermanos
Miembros, de una iglesia
Vamos caminando
Al encuentro del señor
—
Together, like a family
Members of a church
Together we are walking
To meet the lord
—Excerpt of “Juntos Como Hermanos” by Cesáreo Gabarain, © 1979 OCP Publications
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