This week’s Gospel reading skips over the, to my mind, most interesting part of the reading. In between the parable of the sower and its explanation is a vignette where the disciples take Jesus aside apart from the crowd and push to know why it is that he teaches in parables rather than speaking the truth plainly.

Jesus doesn’t really explain it. He makes clear that he is doing so, and that in doing so, some people will not be able to hear the Truth. He says that the disciples who are with him and hearing the Truth, but the others, the crowds will not. He quotes a teaching from Isaiah to remind us that this isn’t a novel idea. But he doesn’t explain it – at least not in a satisfying way to my mind.

What’s going on? I’m not sure. But what is clear is that there is more going on in what Jesus teaches that meets the eye at first glance. There’s a depth and a richness that will only be clear after study and discipleship – and that not all will have that opportunity. But for those who are so moved, the fruit that their study and struggle will bring them will be amazing.

If you are called to go deeper – and I expect you are simply because you’re reading these words when you could choose to do something else with your time – then understand the profound nature of the gift you have been given, and how greatly you will be rewarded.

And what a gift you are, and can be to others as well.

You can view the sermon directly at this link.