“With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it.” (Mark 4:33)
The major theme of this eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time tries to explain the birth and growth of the Kingdom of God in our lives and the gigantic growth of the Church from its very humble beginnings. Either growth is slow and mysterious, but guided by the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish the will of God.
Today’s first reading and Gospel are offered through parables, which are “metaphors or similes drawn from nature or common life." A parable is a specific literary form, told for a particular or ethical purpose to provoke thought and challenge the hearers to a decisive action. A parable is a
short tale, a simple narrative, that illustrates a universal truth. It sketches a setting, describes an action and shows the results. A parable often involves a character, who faces a moral dilemma or one who makes a bad decision and then suffers the unintended consequences. Although the meaning of a parable is often not explicitly stated, it is not intended to be hidden, but on the
contrary, quite straightforward and obvious.

Parables express an abstract argument by means of using a concrete narrative, which is easily understood. Every parable has two levels of meaning:
(1) the “literal” meaning, which is direct and forthright; and (2) the “topical” or “figurative” meaning, which is indirect and inferred.

Aside from providing guidance and suggestions for proper conduct in one's life, parables frequently use metaphorical language, which allows people
to more easily discuss difficult or complex ideas.

Our Lord and Savior loves to use parables to teach us the truth of the Kingdom of God. God does not want us holding a relationship of Transaction but Transformation. Therefore, Dynamic Christian disciples are those who (1) BELIEVE, (2) GROW, (3) SERVE, (4) LOVE and (5) LEAD others to Jesus. Today’s topic invites us to reflect on our vocation of dynamic Christian discipleship to live a pure holy life to fulfill God’s will and obtain our salvation.

How can we cooperate in the growth of God’s kingdom and rule in our hearts, fulfilling His will with our humble cooperation and persisting participation?

Wishing everyone a blessed week in the Lord.