We have two small, but pointed parables in today’s Eucharistic Liturgy of the Word. I am sure they are not meant for instruction or exhaustive comprehension. Now my saying this confronts me with the reality of my taking a whole semester on understanding these attraction-devices. They are meant for pondering, wondering and listening to where they land in my spirit.

So both of these have to do with growing from small and insignificant into something surprisingly large. So where does that land for you? Are you trying to obtain an insight which is to assist you? Are parables about your personal and or spiritual advancement? That works if they assist you in figuring out all of God’s Kingdom. Could there be other ways of hearing them more deeply?

You could figure out how a mustard seed could be planted and grow tall enough to provide shade and a landing spot for birds. You could examine chemically how yeast and flour arrange themselves to be available for making bread. We love things which invite us to the comfort of complete understanding. These two attraction-devices are invitations to your faithful heart, not your clever intellect.

NOW for MY Reflection.

I was shown how to do the Rubik’s Cube and when I did it a few times, well, that became boring, except to dazzle some of my less-interested Jesuit brothers. Other than those few occasions, the old cube rests smugly on my shelf; I have lost interest.

Once we know something we can loose our interest. There can be little T-Shirt sayings which might attract our minds. I wear one which proclaims, “Trust me, I’m Irish.” That might confound some and challenge others. I would wish someone would come up to me in the gym and want to argue or belittle me or the untruth of those words.

What Jesus did with parables is similar. As an Irish person, of course, I am a loud-mouth mystery! They might want to figure out the word trust or tell me about a distrusted person of the Old Sod and not want to allow my being an Irish Mystery to be any point to ponder or wonder. Jesus was so new, so different, so attractive that He said and did these many things to keep his followers and new-comers interested enough not to be bored and wander off.

Do you enjoy word-puzzles? Can you be a puzzlement to yourself? Who is the most mysterious or puzzling person to whom you are attracted? Now you have an idea about Jesus’ use of seeds and leaven, or maybe not! Keep being attracted to the Great Puzzle Master and thereby avoid being spiritually bored.