Luke 8:4-15

Lectio (Reading)

When a large crowd gathered, with people from one town after another
journeying to Jesus, he spoke in a parable.
“A sower went out to sow his seed.
And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path and was trampled,
and the birds of the sky ate it up.
Some seed fell on rocky ground, and when it grew,
it withered for lack of moisture.
Some seed fell among thorns,
and the thorns grew with it and choked it.
And some seed fell on good soil, and when it grew,
it produced fruit a hundredfold.”
After saying this, he called out,
“Whoever has ears to hear ought to hear.” 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.

“This is the meaning of the parable.
The seed is the word of God.
Those on the path are the ones who have heard,
but the Devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts
that they may not believe and be saved.
Those on rocky ground are the ones who, when they hear,
receive the word with joy, but they have no root;
they believe only for a time and fall away in time of temptation.
As for the seed that fell among thorns,
they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along,
they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life,
and they fail to produce mature fruit.
But as for the seed that fell on rich soil,
they are the ones who, when they have heard the word,
embrace it with a generous and good heart,
and bear fruit through perseverance.”

Meditatio (Reflecting)

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.

Oratio (Responding)

This is the answer to the Question: “Why does Jesus always teach using parables?” It is a question that many have pondered, and the answer is just as enigmatic. Let’s look at what it would look like if Jesus spoke directly, and explained everything he meant. First the bible would be 10 times longer than it is currently, and I guarantee people would dissect every word of that, for further explanation. But as it is the parable allows Jesus to tell multiple stories at once. Each parable usually describes multiple audiences. Often one talks about a specific group of people and time (ie. jews in the old testament or the apostles), while at the same time speaking to all of us individually, at the time we are in now. The parable also serves to teach multiple lessons at once. Usually there is a very basic message about the right and wrong, good or bad, that speaks to the most basic of human needs and happiness, but these parables, when you learn the context of the elements of the parable, and learn what the people did or expected in their lives at that time, the parable reveals a whole new teaching that is not immediately obvious. Sometimes there are many layers to levels of deeper meaning. Think about Jesus explaining all of that in detail. It would be overwhelming, and many would look for deeper meaning on all of that. But instead we are given a lesson that is perfect for us where we are on our journey with the lord. I have read the same scripture dozens of times, and each time I get a different lesson out of it. Because the gospel is not just words on a page it is an algorithm. You bring different things to it, your life circumstances, your level of faith and knowledge, and the state of your heart, and the algorithm gives you back a lesson that is useful to you in your life right now. An encyclopedia of explanations of Jesus’s teachings could not do that. I hope you see that there is great wisdom in this way of teaching, and that is why Jesus chose this way of doing so. What I think is most important, is that we trust that God knows what he is doing, and not question his ways. Give him your trust and faith, and he will give you EVERYTHING in return. His teachings are perfect, we must change and allow ourselves to believe that. When we do, the full extent of god’s love and mercy will then be revealed to us, and the sliver of a glimpse of what god has planned for us in heaven will then start to be visible. Amen.

Contemplatio (Contemplating)

Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.

Resolutio (Resolving)

Oh Lord, pour out your grace on me today when I read and ponder your word, and help me to understand what you want me to learn today. And help me to see your kingdom of heaven, and work for its fulfillment today.