Word of the Week

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Parable: Parabole (Gk.): A spoken or literary “comparison” between two things for illustration.

Parables are workable images and comparisons used to invite and confront the hearer or reader with a definitive choice to give everything for the sake of the Kingdom of Heaven. Acharacteristic feature of the teaching of Jesus, each parable is intended to disclose the secrets of the presence of the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth in the Church (CCC 546). Along with Christ’s intention to unveil realities of the Church with his Kingdom of Heaven parables, each illustration draws out a moral and spiritual lesson for the Christian journeyed (CCC 546).

The word parable is found 50 times in Sacred Scripture: two in the Old Testament and 48 in the New Testament (all in the Synoptic Gospels).  The Ignatius Catholic Bible Study, Gospel of Matthew, highlights the OT vision of language related to parables and its importance to bring insight to those willing to appreciate the nature and use of literary genre, The term parable is found in the Greek OT, where it frequently translates the Hebrew term for literary forms such as proverbs, riddles, and allegories (1 kings 4:32; Sir.47:15; Ezek.24:3) (Hahn and Minch, 41).  Consequently, the NT vision to parable offers a consistent picture of allegory where Christ constantly portrays the image and function of the church under the guise of the parables of the Kingdom of heaven (Mt.13:1-52). The hidden message behind these illustrations were revealed to the humble and concealed to the proud and conceit (Hahn and Minch, 41).

We ought to contemplate these deeper mysteries in order to understand our posture as children of God and our call to do the works of God the Father.  Along with this disposition of being an infant for the glory of God, Christ offers us another key lesson for every Christian, the call to creatively catechize. As faithful Christians, we must hand on the faith with a freshness that makes learning desirable for the catechumenate.  In addition, this catechesis must constantly be present to uncover the depth and mystery of our faith.

“The great parable revealed by Christ in his earthly life is that glory comes from the field of suffering.”

--G.K. Chesterton

Primary Texts Consulted

•  Catholic Bible. Suggested trans. Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition.
•  Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2nd Edition, 1997.
• Hahn, Scott and Minch, Curtis. Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: The Gospel of Matthew, RSV, 2nd ed. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2000.

The Catholic Hour Home Page
Comments or Questions?
Contact Webmaster