12.1: The Parables of the Kingdom

Read Matthew 13:24-30; 36-43

This is the only other parable that Jesus is known to have explained. This is an answer to the problem of why God allows evil to happen. We often ask why God does not destroy the wicked. Here we find that God does not destroy the wicked for fear of killing off the good. You see, there are people who might repent and turn good, so God does not want to destroy them. God is prepared to be patient and wait for the last judgment before passing final judgment on people.

Write in your own words the parable of the Darnel.

Task RC 2

How might this parable answer the questions of Christians who felt that they were badly treated by life?

Read Matthew 13:4-9; 18-23.

The sower is a parable which tells about the conditions of entry to the Kingdom of God. The Jews had long hoped for the Kingdom of God. It was the time when God would make his presence felt on Earth and would drive away all evil. It was open to those who lived righteously. In the Sower Jesus is saying how the word of God is varyingly accepted. The fear of persecution and love of riches can prevent the word of God from bearing fruit in a person. Jesus is saying that to enter the kingdom of God you have to ensure that you have let God work in your life.

But what kind of fruits is Jesus talking about? How do we know when God’s word has born fruit in us? We can examine the way in which people relate to each other. Sometimes we meet people who are simply unpleasant to know and who leave us feeling unhappy, sad, depressed, degraded and so on; yet there are others who leave a good impression on everyone around them. Knowing such people is a positive experience, and we are happier, wiser etc. as a result. A good rule of thumb is that at the end of every day we should be able to say to ourselves that the world is a better place because we have lived in it, that our actions have produced good, that the sum total of goodness in the world has been increased. This is something that we should also be able to say at the end of our lives. Those who let God’s influence get to work in them will be able to meet this standard. They will have helped to build the Kingdom of God.

How might the pressures of modern life work against the word of God in our lives?

How might an ordinary Catholic help others in the course of the day?

Read Matthew 13:31-32

This parable is the Mustard Seed. It is taken to refer to the growth of the Christian community. It begins small with Jesus and his disciples, but grows until it includes the whole Earth. The meaning of the birds of the air is not clear. Some think them to be Gentiles, who will be included in the church; others think that it means that all nature will be incorporated in the kingdom.

Summarise the teaching of the Parable of the Mustard Seed.

How might this parable give hope to Christians?

Read Matthew 13:33

This is the Parable of the Yeast. Those of you who have made bread will know how yeast changes the dough. Bread made without yeast is flat; bread made with yeast is light. The yeast permeates the dough to make light bread. It affects the whole loaf. This means that Christ’s message transforms the whole life. It completely changes its character. If your character is not completely transformed by Christ, you are not a true Christian. You have to turn from a self-centred person to a loving one.

Write out the parable of the yeast in your own words. In your own words explain its message.

Read Matthew 13:44-46

Read the Parables of the Treasure and the Pearl.

These parables tell us the importance of the kingdom of God. The characters in the parable sell all that they own to find the treasure. This tells us that God’s kingdom, his rule in our lives, is far more important than any material wealth or anything the world has to offer.

How do Christian missionaries live up to the teaching of the parables of the Treasure and the Pearl.

Read Mark 12:28-34

Jewish rabbis often discussed which of the commandments was the greatest, so the wise man wanted Jesus’ opinion on this issue. Jesus quoted two commandments from the book of Deuteronomy. These were quite well-known to the Jews, but Jesus’ originality was to show that they are the key to understanding the whole law of God. Jesus is saying that the Christian life is based on love of God and neighbour, so that any lovelessness in any form is unchristian. Love is the foundation stone of the Christian life.

In the Christian view your neighbour is anyone who is near you or who enters your life in any way. It might be someone who dislikes you or someone whom you dislike.

Give three examples of how Catholics attempt to put show their love for God and three examples of how they show love for their neighbour

Read Luke 10:25-37;

This is the Good Samaritan. Christ here was showing how love should be put into practice. The Samaritans and the Jews had been bitter enemies for centuries, and the Jews thought Samaritans inferior and no good, yet the Samaritan helps the Jew. If Christ had shown a Jew helping a Samaritan some of his listeners might have still felt encouraged to harbour racist feelings of superiority over their neighbour. Instead, Jesus did it the other way round to challenge them to change their attitudes. The priest and the Levite, supposedly the holy people, were going on temple duty, so they could not make themselves ritually unclean by touching a body. Yet although they obeyed the written law, they did not satisfy the demands of love.

Rewrite the Good Samaritan using modern characters.

Explain why Jesus’ listeners might have been shocked and challenged by the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Read Mark 8:34-38

Jesus is here saying what is expected of a disciple of his. The key phrase here is "deny himself". Denying yourself sometimes means giving up something, such as food, cigarettes and so on, but really denying yourself is essential to living in a moral way. Keeping the moral law always involves being able to say no to yourself. For instance, being honest means resisting the temptation to steal. Loving people means making sacrifices for them. Devoted parents give up an immense amount for their children. People who love God deny themselves to do God’s will. Aid workers and missionaries live and work in harsh and dangerous conditions for little or no money out of love for God and their neighbour.

Find out about one of Damian of Molokai, St Vincent de Paul, Maximillian Kolbe, Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa or Oscar Romero. Write about your chosen person in your own words.

How many problems in our society are caused by people being unable to deny themselves?

The next key phrase is "take up his cross." Jesus accepted the cross even though he did not want it. It was the responsibility which fell upon him. He is saying here that his disciples cannot choose all their responsibilities. He is also saying that not all responsibilities can be pleasant. Think of parents who bring up seriously handicapped children. They did not choose the handicap, but they accept what has been given them and do their best. This is true Christianity.

The saying "Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it." is a strange text. The word life might mean the things that we possess, our relationships, ambitions etc. The text gives people a stark choice: do you put Christ before your life, or vice versa. At another level of meaning it can refer to martyrdom. Remember that Mark’s Gospel was written for a church under persecution. Often the choice for Christians was deny your faith or die. The gospel is saying that those who are prepared to sacrifice their lives for Christ will be rewarded, while those who sacrifice Christ for their lives will lose everything. Being a true disciple brings the rewards of eternal life. Linked to this explanation is verse 38 which warns that those who are ashamed of Christ and his words will find the Son of Man ashamed of them. Christians must have the courage to proclaim their faith openly.

One of the most important parts of this scripture is the warning that gaining the whole world is useless if it means losing your life. The standard Christian interpretation of this is that if you achieve success by sinning, doing evil, you stand to lose eternal life.

"Live in the real world! You can’t expect anyone to give up everything or risk their lives for their faith." Do you agree with this statement?

Christians believe that they should be proud of Christ, and this means that they want to bear witness to him. Bearing witness means openly proclaiming your faith by word and example. Suggest ways in which Christians can do this.

Read Mark 12:41-44

This story is known as the Widow’s Mite, a mite being a small coin. There is a common misconception that Jesus condemned the rich people who put in large sums. He did not. He simply said that the poor woman who gave a small sum gave more than they did. This implies that he valued their offering, but hers more. Underlying Jesus’ statement is the realisation that it is not what is given that matters but the sacrifice that goes into it. Jesus is implying that God values the effort that goes into giving rather than what is given. The widow’s sacrifice was greater than that made by the rich, because they gave from their surplus, she gave what she needed to live on.

You have Read the passages on discipleship. If a non-Christian asked you to explain Jesus’ teaching on discipleship to them, what would you say? (This answer requires a short paragraph.)

Read Mark 6:17-13

Being told not to take a spare tunic etc. was an instruction to travel light. Excessive goods would mean that they travelled more slowly and were more likely to be robbed. Christians, however, Read this passage more deeply to mean that those in the service of Christ should not be burdened by possessions which could impede their freedom of movement. To be free to preach the gospel you have to be free to go wherever the need is, and this means that there should be nothing to burden you or hold you back.

The apostles are told to accept hospitality. In the Middle East even today hospitality is very important. People are expected to give it and to receive it thankfully. Note that Jesus tells the apostles that once they are given hospitality they should stay in one place. To do otherwise would be to give offence to their host. The rule seems to be that you should have less care about possessions than about people’s feelings.

In your own words say what were Jesus’ instructions to the apostles.

Read Matthew 19:16-30

The young man was called to a special vocation to be one of Jesus’ personal band. Yet that meant leaving his wealth behind because it would be a hindrance to him. He could not break the ties of money and went away. Jesus commented that it was hard to enter the kingdom of God. When he spoke of the camel and the needle he may have been referring to the needle, a low thin gate into Jerusalem, through which a loaded camel could only go if it shed its burden, or he may have been referring to a thick rope known as a camel, which would have to slim down if it was to go through a needle’s eye. Either way he was saying that you have to break your ties to wealth if you want to be a follower of Christ. He did point out to the apostles that those who have made sacrifices for him would receive benefits in this life. These benefits would be in true wealth, which is a good character, happiness and closeness to God. They would also inherit eternal life.

Christians believe that money can be a false god. Some people put money first in their lives and will do anything to get it. An old saying was that money is their "little tin god." Christians feel that this is idolatry, worshipping a god other than the true one. Anyone who ignores the will of God to make money is making an idol of it, and it is the teaching of the Bible that idolatry always leads to disaster.

How many problems in our society are due to money? Explain with examples.

How do monks and nuns and aid workers keep the teaching of Jesus given in this story?

How important is money in your life?

Read Matthew 20:24-28

This is an important passage, as it shows that Christian leadership is the opposite of the kind of leadership exercised by the godless. Christianity and the love of power do not mix. Furthermore, anyone who mixes love of power and service to Christ goes badly wrong, and when this has happened the consequences have always been bad for Christianity and other people. For example Christians who have launched persecutions have tried to mix service to Christ with non-Christian methods of leadership, and no good ever came of it. Christ can only be followed in love, gentleness and humility. The service of Christ is non-violent. True Christian leadership consists of service to others, not domination. Furthermore, the love of status and Christianity do not mix. Christians should not seek to be in a position to look down on others.

Why should Christians in a position of responsibility take this passage very seriously?

Is it true that some people are more important than others?
Does having an important job make you more important than someone else?

Read Matthew 28:18-20

This is the great commission. It gives the Catholic Church its mission to spread throughout the whole world. Note that the apostles are to baptise in the name of the Father, the Son and the Spirit and are to spread Jesus’ teachings. The mission of the Church is to change the world through spreading God’s word. It is to be the channel through which Christ is made present to all humanity.

Of vital importance is the promise, "I am with you all days, even to the end of time." The apostles have just fallen down before Christ, they have finally realised the truth that the Son of God has been living with them. This means that Christ’s promise has the weight of God behind it. God will be always with the Church in its mission.

Write out this passage and learn it.

Why is the missionary spirit so important to the Catholic Church?

"Every Christian is a missionary." How can Catholics put this principle into practice in their daily lives?