28 January 2026 - to hear and understand

Today's Readings
(Audio) 

"The mystery of the Kingdom of God has been granted to you.
But to those outside everything comes in parables, so that
they may look and see but not perceive,
and hear and listen but not understand,
in order that they may not be converted and be forgiven."

Many the parables seemed too simple and straightforward to have much value. Rather than allowing their meaning to be gradually revealed, listeners would be tempted instead harden their hearts. Perhaps they imagined that their surface level understanding was exhaustive. Or perhaps they didn't consider it to be worth thinking about enough to even understand superficially. The parables of Jesus were definitely the sort of teaching tool that required one to be childlike in order to derive value. 

Jesus said to them, "Do you not understand this parable?
Then how will you understand any of the parables?

Understanding this parable required the same humble disposition that would be required for any parable of Jesus. This was an attitude that, while not content with the superficial, did not attempt to solve everything with human cleverness. It was, rather, content to allow itself to be led by Jesus as he helped his hearers to see ever deeper levels of luminous meaning contained within. Jesus desires us to approach his word with the same humility, allowing him to lead us as we strive to grow in understanding.

Hear this! A sower went out to sow.
And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, 
and the birds came and ate it up.

In the proclamation of the kingdom there was no insufficiency of seed that could be blamed for the lack of growth. Rather it was the conditions on the receiving end that had the potential to pose problems. Jesus could provide endless parables, but insufficient interest would mean they would go in one ear and out the other. In other cases, even those willing to receive the parables one time might later find that they had insufficient roots because they didn't appreciate their true depth. One might even be able to answer all likely questions about a parable in such a case but still find it unable to avail them in the face of tribulation or persecution. In order for a parable to achieve that level of spiritual utility required more than a superficial understanding. There are many forces that can interfere with our ability to digest and internalize the parables. They stem from both excessive fear and excessive desire. Anything we value more than God can prevent us from remaining still and silent long enough for the growth of the seed to be accomplished within us. If we imagine ourselves pulled this way, jostled that way, by all the various emotions we experience, we might concede that we would not make for an easy growth environment for any sort of plant life.

The growth environment that the seed wants is similar to the rest promised to David, through Nathan, in God's covenant promise. This growth environment, this spiritual greenhouse, is the Church of the New Covenant, or at least, at can be, if we know how to avail ourselves of the stillness, light, and living water, found therein.

I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place
without further disturbance.
Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old, 
since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel.
I will give you rest from all your enemies.
The LORD also reveals to you that he will establish a house for you.

Housefires - Come To The River