16th Sunday Year A

16th Sunday Year a – Parables Continued

I felt tempted after reading this week’s gospel to re-issue my homily from last week as the readings are so similar in structure and content, but after some thought decided to try and push this a little bit further.

In our gospel for this weekend we continue the consideration of the parables that Jesus used in his teachings to the people and to his disciples to try and explain the Word and the Kingdom of God.

So, what is a parable? It is simply a short story that helps understanding. It is a way of breaking something down that may be seen as complicated or difficult to grasp.

Jesus uses parables a lot to explain to his disciples and the Jewish people ideas such as heaven, eternal happiness and as in today’s gospel, the Word of God, the Good News that is in fact Him and His message to the people. All concepts that could be a little heavy and hard to grasp, to readily take in and understand.

You could argue that it might have been easier to simply speak to them plainly, clearly and more directly by telling them something along the lines of –

“Some of you don’t want to hear what I have to say and are wasting your time and mine by being here.” Or

“Some of you are here because others are here and you are naturally curious about what is going on, but only to a point and you are not going to buy in if it means that you have to commit to giving something of yourselves – time, energy, thought.” Or

“Some of your are here with a genuine wish to learn and to become better in your knowing and loving God and you will try to apply what you hear but – but – but at the end of the day, there is still life to be lived and all of the challenges that go with that.” Or

“And yes, there are those of you who are here, determined to hear, understand, cherish and change and to live what you hear to the fullest come what may; come whatever challenges or barriers.”

So, I suppose the question then is, “Why bother with the parable? Why not simply say it like it is?”

Well, think about this for a moment! Which of the two approaches would make you want to stay and listen longer? Which of the two approaches would make you want to work it out and see what it meant to you and where you could take it? Are you the darnel, the unwanted weed or are you the wheat? Is your faith like the mustard seed – ever so tiny in its origin but capable of growing to the biggest shrub of all, a home that attracts and gives shelter and nourishment to all kinds of birds and beasts?

I think that the parable approach allows us to learn in a very safe, secure and almost cosseted way. It allows us to consider things in the security of an idea that is offered to us to examine and take apart and mull over, at our own pace and comfort.

So what! Let’s be honest. I bet most people here are thinking that these parables were used at a time when people were not educated like us: when they could not read or write and when everything was taught by word of mouth. In other words, not for us educated people of today. We don’t need parables. We don’t have any use for stories and broken-down ideas. No, give it to us straight from the shoulder, unsweetened, direct and true.

We are sophisticated and educated and much more capable of deep thought and consideration. Aren’t we? Are we?

Jesus offered the parables of the sowing seeds, the wheat and the darnel, the mustard seed and the yeast as ideas that people could grasp and easily and readily understand as relating to their everyday lives. They dealt with fruit, wheat, vegetables, seeds and sowing every day. They understood the complexities of sowing and maximising their harvest; the dangers of weeds reducing their crop. They could readily see where Jesus was coming from and could take his teachings and relate them to their lives.

Where are we today? What are the everyday things that we are involved with that Jesus could use today to get his message home to us: that would make us ponder what he is saying and extract the gem-messages that relate to us in our lives?

Well, I would offer one that is hitting me at the moment, that is making me ponder anew Jesus’ message of love for all, his message to his disciples to go out to all nations, telling them what I have taught you and baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Whenever we see or hear the phrase, “Black lives matter”, what do we think? Do we immediately agree or do we think it is getting to be too much? It is worth thinking on this because black lives do matter: all lives matter according to the message of Jesus and of his heavenly father. “Go out to all nations”, He said. All nations and by inference, all colours, all sizes, all accents and languages, and teach them of the love of God for all beings.

Racism is the opposite of love. Racism is the absence of love. People have been denigrated and dehumanised by casual acts and language and it has to stop. If we want to consider how we show our love of God today, we can challenge racism every time we hear it or see it. We can show our agreement and support in any number of ways but that is what we need to do: we need to show that all lives matter to God; that every life on this planet is important to our God and we will work strenuously to show our love of Jesus, our understanding of God’s love for mankind by how we live his gospel in our everyday lives.

Dear Lord, help me to make your garden grow in me and through me and bring you a great harvest of love. Amen

Bidding Prayers

1.      That we seek every opportunity to grow the Word of God in every circumstance we encounter. Lord in your mercy

2.      That we grow God’s love in our own hearts that we might share the fruits of that harvest with those around us. Lord in your mercy

3.      That we encourage those we meet to laugh, to love and to smile and rejoice in the knowledge that we are saved. Lord in your mercy

4.      That there is an increase in peace across our troubled world. Lord in your mercy

5.      That those who are suffering in mind, body or spirit are uplifted by the knowledge and love of God. Lord in your mercy

6.      That those who have died recently or whose deaths occur at this time find eternal rest with the Lord. Lord in your mercy

7.      We ask Mary our Mother and the Mother of our Saviour to intercede for us as we now pray together, Hail Mary, full of grace. . . . .