Jesus' Method: The Parables. Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)

The theme of the Word of God is at the heart of today’s liturgy. In the first reading, the Word is compared to rain and snow that fall from the sky to water the earth and make it fertile. In the Gospel, it is likened to a seed sown on different kinds of soil. The focus of the readings is not only the Word itself, but also the way in which it is proclaimed and received.

The Gospel presents us with the well-known parable of the sower. However, this parable is more than just a story with a moral lesson. As Pope Benedict XVI observes, it is in many ways “autobiographical”, because it reflects the very experience of Jesus and his preaching. Christ is presented as the sower who scatters the good seed of the Word of God, while at the same time showing that its fruitfulness depends on the receptiveness of those who receive it.

Today, special attention is given to Jesus“ teaching method. After hearing the parable, the disciples approach Him and ask, “¿Why do you speak to them in parables??” Jesus replies, “To you the secrets of the kingdom of heaven have been revealed, but not to them".

Why does Jesus choose to teach in parables? Throughout the Gospel, we see him teaching in various ways. He delivers the Sermon on the Mount in a direct and clear manner. Now, however, he adopts a different teaching style. This change surprises even the disciples, which is why they ask him about it. 

The use of parables teaches us that the Word of God requires effort, reflection, and interpretation. It challenges not only the intellect, but also the heart and the will. The Word cannot be received passively or indifferently. For it to bear fruit in our lives, we must personally commit ourselves to it. We must allow it to challenge and transform us.

Those who listen to the parable are called to become fertile ground: open, receptive, and willing to reflect deeply in order to grasp the meaning of the message. Humility and openness are, therefore, essential. Those who approach the Word as the disciples did when they approached Jesus to ask for an explanation gain a deeper understanding of the mysteries of the kingdom.

Today’s liturgy teaches us how to receive and spread the Word of God. The parable encourages us to engage deeply with Sacred Scripture so that the Word may bear fruit in us—thirty, sixty, and even a hundredfold. When we share the Word with others, we must do so in a way that appeals to their freedom and engages their intellect.