Daily Thought - October 2, 2013 / Gândul zilei - 2 octombrie 2013 Two Parables of the Kingdom Jesus was asked by His disciples why was He speaking to the people in parables (Matthew 13:10). Jesus explained that in parables He can speak to both the crowds and to the disciples. However “it was given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given” (Matthew 13:11). It seems clear that Jesus was speaking in parables so that only the disciples could understand their deeper meaning. And even for them the parables were hard to understand, so Jesus had to explain their meanings. The Lord explained to them the Parable of the Sower and the Parable of the Wheat and the Tares. Listening to the comments made by the Lord, I believe the disciples had some concerns regarding the Kingdom of God that Jesus proclaimed. If the parables were told so that only a few people could understand them, how small would the Kingdom be? It wouldn’t be for many people. If understanding the parables of the kingdom was difficult for them – the few, the elected ones – to understand, then how hard is the kingdom to be discerned and to be known by us? How hard is going to be for our souls to be illumined by the mystery of the Kingdom of Heaven? To give an answer to their concerns, Jesus then told two parables: The Parable of the Mustard Seed and The Parable of the Leaven. The Parable of the Mustard Seed “Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field, which indeed is the least of all the seeds; but when it is grown it is greater than the herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and nest in its branches.” Parable of the Leaven “Another parable He spoke to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal till it was all leavened.” In these parables the Lord speaks about an outward growth and an inward growth of the Kingdom. He told the disciples these parables so they would understand that their time was a time of beginning. They were planting the small seed of mustard then. They were the people who would take the leaven (their faith) in their souls and share it with others. However we can suggest that: The first parable deals with the outward growth of the Kingdom. The kingdom began with just a few men, but “soon encompassed the whole earth,” according to Theophylact. The second parable deals more with the inward growth of the Kingdom of Heaven. The leaven represents the faith that grows in the believer’s soul. We need to receive a little leaven, for it will grow and encompass our whole being. The Kingdom of Heaven starts here, with the planting of a small seed and with a little leaven hid in many measures of meal. The planting of the mustard seed and the taking of the leaven must be an outward event, but also an inward event. It is for us to grow into the Kingdom, but also for others to be brought into the Kingdom. Not only did the apostles during the beginning of Christianity have to plant the mustard seed and hide the leaven in measures of meal, but we all must. As baptized Christians we have also received the calling to proclaim the good news, and “…make disciples of all the nations… teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you…” “And lo,” said the Lord, “I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20). ~Fr. Cornel Todeasa
Posted on: Thu, 03 Oct 2013 02:43:43 +0000
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