Parables and miracles
Two instances where the "Sunday-school" answers i received were not only wrong but were dangerous were when in reference to the purpose of parables and miracles. Strictly speaking, growing up Catholic, I never attended Sunday School as my boys do now, but we had plenty of theology (i.e. religion) classes in the schools I attended from Kindergarten through 12th grade.
Parables were not to make unfamiliar subjects (like the Kingdom of God) more familiar through the use of common imagery. It was quite the opposite actually in that they were meant to obscure these subjects and separate the truth-seekers from those looking to have their ears tickled:
And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"
Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted."
"For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.
"Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
"In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
You will keep on hearing, but will not understand;
you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
for the heart of this people has become dull,
with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes,
otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears,
and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them.'
"But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear." (Matthew 13:10-16)
I also came across a passage that brought out the purpose of miracles (i.e. to validate the messenger, in this case, John the Baptist and Christ):
Many came to Him and were saying, "While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true." Many believed in Him there. (John 10:41, 42)
Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. (John 12:37)
Hold fast to the Word, my sons, and you will also know the truth that is obscured even by good-intentioned followers of His.
Parables were not to make unfamiliar subjects (like the Kingdom of God) more familiar through the use of common imagery. It was quite the opposite actually in that they were meant to obscure these subjects and separate the truth-seekers from those looking to have their ears tickled:
And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?"
Jesus answered them, "To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted."
"For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.
"Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
"In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
You will keep on hearing, but will not understand;
you will keep on seeing, but will not perceive;
for the heart of this people has become dull,
with their ears they scarcely hear, and they have closed their eyes,
otherwise they would see with their eyes, hear with their ears,
and understand with their heart and return, and I would heal them.'
"But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear." (Matthew 13:10-16)
I also came across a passage that brought out the purpose of miracles (i.e. to validate the messenger, in this case, John the Baptist and Christ):
Many came to Him and were saying, "While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true." Many believed in Him there. (John 10:41, 42)
Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. (John 12:37)
Hold fast to the Word, my sons, and you will also know the truth that is obscured even by good-intentioned followers of His.
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