From the Deacon's Desk

Each day, I reflect upon a word or a phrase inspired by the readings of the day. I encourage you to do the same and perhaps incorporate that word or phrase into your daily prayer.

The disciples approached Jesus and said, “Why do you speak to the crowd in parables?” He said to them in reply, “Because knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of heaven has been granted to you, but to them it has not been granted…This is why I speak to them in parables, because they look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.” (Matthew 13:10-17)

SPEAK TO THE CROWD: Jesus offered us a great example of meeting people where they are. Evidence:

*First, Jesus was a prolific preacher, but how many times do we read about Him actually preaching in a synagogue? Not many. The majority of His teaching was done “on the road.” He went to small villages, hillsides, mountaintops, private homes, etc. He went to where the people were.

*Second, we reflect on the occupation of Jesus – the job that paid the bills. Jesus was a carpenter. Jesus told dozens of parables in His teaching, but how many of those parables were about carpentry? None that I know of. Carpentry would have been a specialized occupation, so instead He told stories about sowing seed, tending sheep, and fishing. His stories were relatable; the stories spoke to people about THEIR lives and THEIR struggles. He brought His message into THEIR world. He met them where they were.

Our role as evangelists – not only the ordained, but ALL the baptized – is to bring the gospel message to “the ends of the earth.”

There is no more powerful and effective way to do this than with personal encounter, telling our stories of God actively engaging in our lives. We should take every opportunity we have to do just that.