The Parables of Faith

The book “Songs of the Deliverer” tells the story of Christ re-cast in modern day. The book is a work of fiction but the stories and characters are based on the Gospels of the New Testament. These Reflections are written to highlight the Biblical pericopes.

Referenced in Chapter Five

What does he mean?

Everyone was intrigued by him, but they wondered why he spoke as he did. They wanted him to speak plainly, but he often told unusual stories and employed odd metaphors to express a lesson. He spoke of the parables of the servants and the talents, of the good samaritan, the prodigal son, the sowers of the wheat, the wedding guest, and numerous others as vehicles to teach. And then once, Jesus put this parable to them, saying:

“The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” (Matthew 13:31 – 32)

What does it mean? Why does he talk this way?

“All these things Jesus said to the crowds in parables; indeed, he said nothing to them without a parable. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet.” (Matthew 13:34)

Indeed, Isaiah was the prophet in the Old Testament who was often referenced by Jesus. It was Isaiah who was commissioned by God to tell the people (Isaiah 6:9 – 10):

“Keep on hearing, but do not understand;
keep on seeing, but do not perceive.’
Make the heart of this people dull,
and their ears heavy,
and blind their eyes;
lest they see with their eyes,
and hear with their ears,
and understand with their hearts,
and turn and be healed.”

To make those who do not understand and who do not perceive, to understand with their hearts so that will turn to God and be healed. That’s why Jesus spoke in parables. So that we can see and hear what our eyes and ears cannot. This is how he fulfilled the words of the prophet who said (Matthew 13:35):

“I will open my mouth in parables;
I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”

And the humble mustard seed? So that we understand the vastness of heaven’s reach in gathering the souls of the faithful throughout all time and for all time. So that we know just how big our faith can grow.

See, hear, understand, and believe.

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