Lent and Parables

Stories tell us a lot about ourselves. They can certainly be entertaining, yes; and they ask us to wonder what we would do in those situations. Would we succumb to the power of the one ring like Frodo and not cast it into the depth of Mt. Doom? Would we face Lord Voldemort willing to die for our friends or run endlessly? Would we grumble with the rest of God’s people as we wandered in the desert and longingly reminisce about fuller bellies in our Egyptian enslavement? Stories challenge us, excite us, and give us hope beyond the now.

The parables of Jesus are stories that are meant to challenge, excite, and ask us to discern our place/role within God’s work. Some of these parables are short and some are long. Some ask us to ponder the current world, while others invite us to discern our place in the world to come. Jesus was well versed in parables, at least in the Synoptics, as were many of his contemporaries. He was well versed enough, and early believers considered them important enough to pass them along so that they can challenge us over and over and over again.

To what purpose? Why teach in parables, and not just simply say things? Perhaps Luke can convey Jesus’ intent: “Then his disciples asked him what this parable (of the Sower) meant. Jesus said, ‘To y’all it has been given to know (of) the mysteries of the kingdom of God; but to others in parables…’” (8:9-10a). Or as earlier said by Jesus, “But I say to you that listen…” (6:27a). Parables are designed to make our minds stir with expectations and then subvert those very same expectations as our understanding of God’s love, grace, and embrace is pushed beyond our limits.

Why? Because, as Jesus said, we are invited deeper and deeper into the “mysteries of the kingdom of God.” It is a mystery why God loves us, because it is certainly not based on our works. It is a mystery why God forgives and graces us, because we do not deserve it. It is a mystery why God embraces us like beloved children just as his own son, because we act like children who ask for our share of the inheritance and can seek distance (Luke 15:11-32).

We are two weeks away from the start of Lent. I know at the moment that seems like a good bit of time away; however, it’s just around the corner. And during this Lenten season, I want to invite you to consider stories! Our Lenten Thursday Evening Studies will revolve around some of the parables of Jesus. We’ll explore the parables of the Lost Things (Luke 15), the Good Samaritan (Lk10:25-37), the Pharisee and Tax Collector (Lk 18:9-14), Laborers in the Vineyard (Matthew 20:1-16), and the Rich Man and Lazarus (Lk 16:19-31).

Beyond those studies, I ask you to consider what the story of St. James is? What does it tell of the ways in which we are trying to live into God’s love, grace, and embrace? And what kind of story do we want to cast for our future? And in time we’ll continue to discover the deeper and deeper mysteries of the kingdom of God. Amen.