Reading for the Day:
Sermon:
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This is one of those rare occurrences when a sermon and a Faith Fact are really one and the same, for today we hear about why Jesus speaks in Parables.
The reason Jesus gives is simple: that “seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.”
As people, we love stories. They often help us to understand a point or a truth that we did not understand before. It’s why you’ll often hear me use stories to illustrate a point for my sermons. It’s why I’ve been working on my Gospel according to Superheroes project, both for Sunday School and online. It’s why the Bible is made of so many stories, and, of course, it's why Jesus uses stories. Stories can help us make connections we hadn’t made before. They can help lead us to the truth.
Of course different groups have different stories, and different communities have specific understandings of those stories. That’s why we continue to come to church, and it’s why we participate in Christian Formation, so that we can learn those meanings for our stories as Christians. That is one of the main points Jesus is getting at in the reading for today in the Gospel according to Matthew.
The other point is this: we won’t get at those meanings unless we keep our eyes and hears open to listen and see what it is God is saying to us. Take the time to dive into the stories of God, especially in Jesus’ Parables. Just pay attention when you do so in order to hear what God’s Word is actually saying to you.