THE POWER OF THE PARABLE

Jan 22, '10 3:58 AM for everyone

The disciples came to him and asked, "why do you speak to the people in parables?" Mt. 13:10.  How does one explain God, or heaven, or hell to the people, especially stubborn, wise, philosophical, irreverent, smart-alecky people?  Who wants to listen to some long-winded, scholarly dissertation on cosmology, theology or pantheism?
So, let me tell you a story, instead.  Its title is "Lunch with God."

Lunch With God

A little boy wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suitcase with a bag of potato chips and a six-pack of root beer and started his journey.

When he had gone about three blocks, he met an old woman. She was sitting in the park, just staring at some pigeons. The boy sat down next to her and opened his suitcase. He was about to take a drink from his root beer when he noticed that the old lady looked hungry, so he offered her some chips. She gratefully accepted it and smiled at him. 

Her smile was so pretty that the boy wanted to see it again, so he offered her a root beer. Again, she smiled at him. The boy was delighted! They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but they never said a word.

As twilight approached, the boy realized how tired he was and he got up to leave; but before he had gone more than a few steps, he turned around, ran back to the old woman, and gave her a hug. She gave him her biggest smile ever.

When the boy opened the door to his own house a short time later, his mother was surprised by the look of joy on his face. She asked him, "What did you do today that made you so happy?" He replied, "I had lunch with God." But before his mother could respond, he added, "You know what? She's got the most beautiful smile I've ever seen!"

Meanwhile, the old woman, also radiant with joy, returned to her home. Her son was stunned by the look of peace on her face and he asked, "Mother, what did you do today that made you so happy?" She replied! "I ate potato chips in the park with God." However, before her son responded, she added, "You know, he's much younger than I expected."

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. People come into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime!  

reply

reply paga65 wrote on Jan 22, '10 Nice parable Kuya James.

reply butchcelestial wrote on Jan 22, '10 It is said that Christianity is the only religion in the world that has 'grace' and everyone experience it in the presence of God. That is why every morning, I tell God to please let me experience 'grace' today. I beg Him for it because I know where ever I experience 'grace' I experience the mighty presence of God.

reply vj329 wrote on Jan 22, '10 Manong, it was a very nice story. No wonder you look like heavenly peace in your picture above with the kid who gave you the potato chips. Your cane and baseball cap go well with your contented countenance. More power, Manong James.

reply paga65 wrote on Jan 22, '10 sabi ng huwak smart aleck.

reply lukeabaya wrote on Jan 22, '10 Great parable JimmyDee. Why do I get the impression "USA ata ang setting"?

reply jeemsdee wrote on Jan 22, '10 butchcelestial said let me experience 'grace'  Sorry, Butz, you asked for it. You misspelled grace, it now goes by a shortened version. Gro.

reply jeemsdee wrote on Jan 22, '10 vj, with comments like yours who wants to be a prophet?

reply jeemsdee wrote on Jan 22, '10 paga65 said sabi ng huwak smart aleck.  Amen to that, Kuya FABS. I guess we can never hope to change people. Preachers just do it for a living. But without the VJs this world would be a boring place indeed.

reply jeemsdee wrote on Jan 22, '10 lukeabaya said "USA ata ang setting"?  You may be right at that, Bro. LUKE. Just picked up the parable somewhere. There's hardly anything anymore that's really original. Just sharing what I thought could pass as parable. Regards to all our friends in the USA and Canada. Send dollars.

reply butchcelestial wrote on Jan 22, '10 jeemsdee said Send dollars.  hahaha . . . . thats a modern parable, Kuya James . . . . .

reply paga65 wrote on Jan 22, '10 jeemsdee said You misspelled grace  In fairness, I think he really meant the grace of God.

reply butchcelestial wrote on Jan 22, '10 Jesus Christ wants us to follow Him (believe in Him and do good things) and by doing so He will make us happy in our hearts (grace).

reply lukeabaya wrote on Jan 22, '10, edited on Jan 22, '10 jeemsdee said Send dollars.  'Send Dollars' sa America ang tawag dito ay 'Power (Para) Ball" lottery.

reply butchcelestial wrote on Jan 22, '10 jeemsdee said Gro  . . . . . thats a disgrace . . . . . hehehehe . . . . .

reply butchcelestial wrote on Jan 22, '10 jeemsdee said who wants to be a prophet  yes . . . . atheism is a non-prophet organization . . . .

reply butchcelestial wrote on Jan 22, '10 seriously . . . . (from the internet) PARABLES OF THE SECRET KINGDOM Matthew's central discourse section (13:1-52) contains seven or eight parables depicting the present character of the kingdom until the end; his final discourse section contains a roughly equal number of end-time kingdom parables (24:32-25:46). As in Mark, Jesus' parables of the kingdom's present state explain why his kingdom comes first in a hidden way and why Israel's leaders reject him. These parables dramatically reinforce that Jesus' first coming was coercive neither militarily nor intellectually (11:25-27); he came as the meek burden bearer (11:28-30), and only the meek could recognize and follow him (11:25, 28). That the parables address his people's acceptance or rejection of the kingdom message follows from the context: Jesus speaks parables that same day that he has confronted Pharisaic opposition (12:24-45) and offered a culturally offensive statement about his family (12:46-50). The parables section closes immediately with an account of Jesus' rejection by his hometown (13:53-58), so that rejection by his own frames his kingdom parables (compare 10:21, 34-37). This likewise implies that true disciples-those who follow the kingdom message-must be prepared to pay the ultimate price for doing so (13:20-22, 44-46). Because modern readers often misunderstand parables, it is important to provide some brief comments about their character. Most of Jesus' parables were stories designed to illustrate a particular point or points, something like sermon illustrations today (except sometimes without the accompanying sermon that would clarify the illustration!). We should not read too much into parables; often some details of the parables merely are necessary to make a good story. Nevertheless, parables provide one creative way to explain Jesus' central point or points.

reply jeemsdee wrote on Jan 23, '10 Personally, I would not take Jesus at his word when he waxes into parables. A parable is a parable, i.e., to clarify or illustrate or drive home a central point. Hence, the examples of "clothing the naked, visiting the sick or those in prison, etc." should not be taken literally. Especially in this day and age, "teaching a man to fish," i.e., teaching him some skills, eg, bartending, tv repair, etc.- as TESDA is doing - should be a sure ticket to heaven.

reply cdrome wrote on Jan 23, '10 Like the parabolic fables of Aesop, yes, the stories are mainly to illustrate a point, or to some, make the preaching more interesting. They are means to an end with a way of attracting the attention of targeted listeners. Like a brief sermon that is pregnant with meaning, your parable is second to none Kuya James. And you are right Luke, the setting looks familiar- in front of the St. Patrick's Cathedral at Fifth Avenue.