Mysteries of the Kingdom: Parables

St. Matthew 13:10-23 (7/21) Gospel for Monday of the Sixth Week after Pentecost Mysteries of the Kingdom I ~ Parables: St. Matthew 13:10-23, especially vss. 10, 11: "And the disciples came and said to Him, 'Why do You speak to them in parables?' He answered and said to them, 'Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.'" The New Testament writers use the word "mystery" to describe God's universal plan of salvation, the Divine, saving effort revealed in and through Jesus Christ, unknown before He came in the flesh, declared subsequently by His Apostles, and made effective within all who heed the life-giving word of God. Anyone may share in the power of Life in Christ through Holy Baptism, receiving Him in the Holy Gifts, meditating on Holy Scripture, living the essential doctrines, reverencing the Holy Icons, and practicing the primary ascetic disciplines. Yet all these pious acts convey but one, basic Mystery of Christ "as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets" (Eph. 3:5). The parables of the Lord Jesus typify the Mystery of Christ, having inherent power to reveal His life-changing truth by which men and women may see, hear, understand, repent, and enter into the power of "Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and...receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). Plainly, not everyone receives Him, a fact also disclosed in the parables. For this reason, our Lord speaks paradoxically concerning certain men, "because seeing they do not see and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand" (Mt. 13:13). Yes, there are persons who simply "do not seem to get it," who fail to grasp the Faith, or, more precisely, are not grasped by the Faith. The Mystery remains obscure or meaningless, sadly, even for some who attend Church regularly. They are like men were before Christ came into the world. Thus, some "enter this holy House...with faith, reverence, and fear of God," and some do not. The Lord began a series of parables first by portraying "a sower" at work, but He provided no explicit interpretation (Mt. 13:3-9). Actually, He was describing Himself as "The Sower" among men and nations. In today's sequel, He interprets the parable for the Faithful, for those who by God's grace have "been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven" (Mt. 13:11). Such are blessed to see with their eyes and hear with their ears (vs. 16). Thus, the Lord Jesus' "sows" and creates a "crisis" in some people, although His life-bearing seed, which is the "word of the Kingdom," is proclaimed to all men. The word is directed to, or sown with, the intention of reaching men's "hearts" (vs. 19). Note: the "heart" is crucial. The Lord Jesus says plainly that not all hearts are ready to receive His seed - His truth. The word of the Kingdom will grow only in a ready heart, in "good ground" (vs. 23).What of the others? If one's heart is closed, the person simply will not understand Christ's truth, since it is comprehensible only in the heart. If men trust only in what appeals to them rationally or emotionally, they may hear the words of the Kingdom audibly, but Satan will suggest to their reasoning a multitude of contrary thoughts. They become confused and they will "not understand" (vs. 19). Thus the evil one devours the seed before it germinates in the heart. For others, the connection between heart and mind is impaired. The heart responds to the seed and stirs up the mind to assent (vs. 20). However, if the seed never reaches the heart's center, where deep, lasting spiritual growth occurs, then the words of the Kingdom soon wither within that person, especially when he faces "tribulation or persecution" (vs. 21). The hearts of other men are closed by preoccupation - "the cares of this world" or with riches. In such cases, the life-giving seed is choked off from their hearts (vs. 22). Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts, O Lord, by the inspiration of Thy Holy Spirit.