Breaking the Word

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.

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached him with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something. He said to her, "What do you wish?" She answered him, "Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom." Jesus said in reply, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?" They said to him, "We can." He replied, "My cup you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left (, this) is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father." When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers. But Jesus summoned them and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt. But it shall not be so among you. Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mt 20:20-28)

 

 

The mother of James and John asked Jesus for places of importance for her sons. She wanted one to be on his right (place of honour, respect, importance etc) and the other to be on his left (place of affection, love etc). The mother was not just for the places (physical). She was for the relevance of those places. She wanted her sons to be in places of honour and respect and affection and love and esteem.

 

Jesus’ reply to the mother was unexpected. The mother was thinking in social context but Jesus wanted them to think in terms of the kingdom. In the kingdom there is only God and his plans, will and decision. Man cannot think of deciding in the kingdom. In the kingdom man can only live and live by following the example of Jesus: drink the cup that he was to drink.

 

Followers of Jesus are to build the kingdom. Kingdom is not built by exercising authority over others or by feeling jealous of the others. Authority will only show one above the other. In the kingdom it is not so. Jealousy will only prove that one is better than the other or one is preferred to the other. In the kingdom all are equal. In the kingdom there are preferences; no first and the last; no one above the other etc. In the kingdom there is only service when we come to talk of relationship among the disciples.