Then, dismissing the crowds, he went into the house. His disciples approached him and said, "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned (up) with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear. (Mt 13:36-43)
Jesus went back into the house and the disciples asked him to explain the parables. The disciples considered him as their teacher. They cleared their doubts. Jesus also spent time with them explaining them the parable. But we could also look at it in a different way. Jesus was with his disciples re-reading the parable. There was the first lesson of lectio divina. Jesus was contextualizing the parable with the disciples.
Jesus was also personalizing the parable. He made known to the disciples the role that he was to play in living the parables. The word of God was not for reverence and respect alone. The reader should find a place in the word of God. Jesus found a place in the parable. He was the one who was to sow the good seed. Disciples were also made to find a place in the parable.
The challenge is also given to the listeners. He said: “Whoever has ears ought to hear”. Word of God is not for just listening alone. One ought to hear the word of God. Then one has to personalize. In personalizing one has to find a place within the word of God as Jesus has found a place in this parable. The role that one finds in listening the word of God will compel him to live the word of God for himself and for the others.
