Many Parables but One Message.
A Reflection on the Parables of Jesus
In most of the parables of Jesus there is a sharp, focused and disturbing
message that comes across clearly.
In most of the parables we see two groups of people. There is the first group
for whom everything seems to go well. They are the close friends of the
master, they work hard the whole day in the vineyard, they don’t wander
from home, they are close to the altar and pray with uplifted hands, they say
‘yes’ to father’s request. What is impressive about this first group is their
virtues. They are hardworking, dedicated, chaste, sacrificing, obedient,
they say ’yes’ to father’s request, they fast, they pray, they work hard,
they are punctual. They are not thieves nor are they adulterers. Everything
seems to go well with them. They are held in high esteem by society.
These could very well be considered candidates for canonization!
There is a second group in most of the parables for whom everything
seems to go wrong. They live in the lanes and by lanes, they are
lazy and report for work at the eleventh hour, they wander far
from home wasting their father’s property, they come close to the
church-door but don’t enter in. What is evident about this second
group is their sins: They are disobedient, they rebel, they wander,
they are lazy, they are thieves, rogues and adulterers. Their friends,
their families, the society know their sins and treat them with disdain.
What is shocking is the conclusion of these parables. The good ones
turn out to be the grumblers, unhappy, resentful, jealous, angry,
refusing to go inside the house while the rebellious, lazy, sinful,
disobedient ones are celebrating at home.
The rebel son who wandered far from home is celebrating inside the house,
while the hardworking obedient elder son is in the servant’s quarters refusing
to go in. The lazy ones who reported at the eleventh hour for work are
going home whistling and singing while the hard working ones who worked
the whole day under the sun, are bitter and angry at the generosity of the
master. Those from the lanes and by lanes are in the banqueting hall
celebrating, while the close friends of the master who were invited,
are busy with fields, bulls and wives and have no time for the master.
The rebellious ’no’ son repent and do the father’s will, while the ‘yes’ son
refuse to do what the father wants. The sinner near the door of the temple
goes home sanctified while the Pharisee in the sanctuary goes home satisfied.
What message has these parables for us who are good Christians,
Religious or Priests? To which group do we belong? Do we consider
ourselves hardworking, poor, chaste, obedient, staying close to the altar,
presbytery bound, close friends of the master? Or do we find ourselves lazy,
disobedient, gone far from home, living in the lanes and by lanes,
sinful and in need of forgiveness?
These parables offer a message of hope and forgiveness to those who have
wandered far. At the same time it is a warning and a challenge to those who
consider themselves ‘good’ and ‘holy’. It is better to be a sinner who repents
than a ‘saint’ who counts his virtues and condemns others failures. It is
better to live in the lanes and by-lanes and accept the invitation and attend the
wedding banquet rather than to be friends of the master and take his invitation
for granted and be busy with buying, accounting, building and finding fault.
It is better to say ‘no’ and repent and do the father’s will rather than
be the ‘yes’ sons and daughters and never do what the father wants. It is
better to wander and come back home and celebrate with the father than
to be at home and never known the love of the father.
Fr T V George sdb
