July 11, 2020
There is a neat story that is told by Loise Wepukhulu and it goes something like this: A young boy was in love with a rich man's daughter. The young man had little money. The girl told him that the money he was earning was not nearly enough to take care of her the way her father did. She laughed at him and told him to go away. "How can I love you when you are so far beneath my level." she said. So, the young man moved on.
Ten years later, while shopping at the mall he saw the girl. She came over to him and asked how he was. She went on to tell him that she married a very wealthy man. "“He is really smart and earns $200,000 a year! I'll bet that is way more than you." Just as she said it her husband came around the corner. His face lit up when he saw the young man. He said, "Sir, it is good to see you! And I see you have met my wife." "Honey," he said to his wife, "This is my boss on the new $200 million dollar project we are working on. And can you believe, years ago he had his heart broken by a young woman who did not feel he would be able to support the lifestyle she wanted to have. Can you imagine how that woman feels now?!"
You know, you hear a story like that, and it is fun to stop and think about what can be learned. Well first, I suppose it tells us that we should not judge someone too quickly. Second, we might consider that maybe the young man, being rejected by the woman, was motivated to work harder, and prove her wrong. There are lots of lessons here.
Jesus probably would have liked this story because he too taught important lessons through stories or parables. He did this in this weekend's Gospel and his apostles asked him why he taught using parables. Jesus tells them that some people have not really sat still long enough to learn his lessons. He told the apostles that many people have heard him, but they did not truly listen to him. But he knows that a good story - well, everyone will want to listen to a good story! And through the story, they can come to truly hear the lesson he is teaching.
And isn't that true? I can read a lesson three times and not understand it at all. But one good story and the message is easily understood! I suppose that is the reason why the parables of Jesus are still teaching us, 2000 years later.
If we keep our eyes and ears open, we can find stories unfolding around us each day that contain the lessons of Jesus. May we learn from them and then use them to spread the messages of Jesus to the people we encounter.
(You can find this weekend's readings here: http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/071220.cfm )
God's Peace,
Deacon Dave