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The conversations of Jesus are different from his parables. The parables tend to be more generic, more applicable to different persons and circumstances. They also are presented in figurative language. The conversations of Jesus, on the other hand, are more concrete and direct. They show Jesus engaged with real, historical individuals, and these encounters are not described in metaphors or figurative language. For this very reason, they can strike the reader more forcefully and immediately. The …

Even read merely as a piece of literature, the parable of the prodigal son is starkly beautiful. But when read as the word of God, it bears the power of eternal salvation to those who read it with an open heart.A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father: “Father, give me the portion of the substance that falls to me.” And he divided his substance to them. And not many days later, the younger son, gathering everything together, went abroad into a far country; and …

Before entering into an explanation of these parables, perhaps a word ought to be said about what a parable is and why it needs explanation in the first place. A parable is a verbal expression, usually a story, whether spoken or written, that uses figures and images to communicate profound truths. Precisely because the truths that are communicated are profound, attempts to express them in plain language to ordinary people can be difficult. In some way, a parable proportions these profound truths …

The parables Jesus told are filled with powerful secrets that reveal the mysteries of God’s kingdom.In this excerpt, Fr. Walshe takes a look at the Gospel reading from last weekend, the fourth Sunday in Lent...This passage about the man born blind is, like the passage about the Samaritan woman at the well, found only in the Gospel of St. John. It is also read in the Church especially during Lent, and it is particularly instructive for those preparing for baptism.As Jesus passed by he saw a man b …

St. Thomas Aquinas once made an interesting observation: whereas nature equips other animals with all the tools they need for acquiring the goods that perfect them (like claws and sharp teeth for fighting, or a hard shell for protection), human beings need to use their minds to make tools. The same is true about understanding Scripture: we don’t naturally understand everything in Scripture. We need to use our minds to find tools to dig more deeply into the hidden truths and meanings of Scripture …