Listen to the words of Jesus. Look for what stands out to you and focus on the meaning God is trying to pass along to you.
“That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!” Matthew 13:1–9
Why did Jesus speak in parables?
In this Gospel, Jesus goes on to teach the familiar “Parable of the Sower.” Immediately after this teaching, the disciples do ask Jesus this question. They ask, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” Jesus responds to them, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted.”
Why wouldn’t God want everyone to understand what He is saying? Why not give everyone insight to get it?
Jesus clarifies a bit further on this point – “The reason I speak to them in parables is that ‘seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.” (v 13)
When I mediate on this, asking God these questions, He gives to me this thought.
A lot of this “granting of knowledge of the mysteries’ comes down to simple desire to understand. In order to find wisdom and understanding, one must seek it.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7-8
To hear the voice of God and then understand what He says, the soul must open his ears and seek to hear His voice. The soul then is only halfway there at this point. Hearing God’s voice isn’t the end, one must seeks to sit at His knee and understand what He is saying.
I always sign my books with something like “listen to God’s voice. John 10:27.” It is so important for the soul to try to hear and seek to listen. It takes time and effort. Time well worth the effort.
Lectio Divina can play a big part in this journey. Practice it daily as you read the Bible and spiritual readings. God is always there speaking to your soul. I pray our Road of Faith focus on Lectio Divina has helped.