Seven Parables

July 31: Thursday of Week 17 of Ordinary Time, Year A-II:

Jeremiah 181-6; Psalm 146:1-2, 3-4, 5-6; Matthew 13:47-53)

Thoughts to help us surrender to Jesus expressing himself through us in ministry.

“Do you understand all these things?” Matthew 13:51

Five of Matthew’s seven parables (13:1-53) connect the failure or success of ministry to our five baptismal consecrations as Christians, Disciples, Prophets, Priests, and Stewards of Christ’s Kingship.

Sower: Ministry fails when recipients won’t break with the culture (“beaten path”) to accept a new identity as Christians; or won’t reflect deeply as Disciples (“shallow ground”) or change their lifestyle as Prophets, because “the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word” in their hearts (thorny ground).

Mustard Seed, Leaven, Treasure, Pearl: The Church community ministers well when: 1. we are dedicated to mission as Prophets announcing the Good News, drawing “the birds of the air” into a growing Church; 2. are surrendered to interacting growthfully with others in ministry as Priests, like leaven active in dough; 3. have taken “ownership” of the “treasure in the field” as Stewards of Christ the King, abandoning ourselves and all we have to the work of establishing his lifegiving reign over all creation. This is wisdom in both its meanings: seeing everything in the light of our last end (treasure in heaven); and having a “taste” for spiritual things that makes us able to appreciate the “pearl of great price.”

The Weeds and Net parables say the Church is a “mixed bag” of saints and sinners, all-inclusive and non-judgmental. We don’t pronounce sentence before God does.

PRAY: “Open my heart, Lord.”

PRACTICE: Live out your Baptism.