if you don't get it, don't scratch your head // 2011.07.21

Click here for this day's Bible readings.

Ever had that experience when you heard a joke about something you're not familiar with? Everyone was laughing but you just don't get it. You try to laugh as well but you know it's just coming out awkward. You want to be as high as them, but you just can't.

I've been in those situations a lot of time. Usually the joke's about a certain story I missed for whatever reason, which all of them are aware of. I'd ask them what the joke was about, they'd explain and I find myself laughing with them. Sometimes though I'd just let it go and don't get it at all.

In today's Gospel, Jesus is saying the same thing. Those whose hearts are closed to God, those who decided not to take a closer look, will never get what the parables are. The parables are about God and His kingdom, and unless you want to know God, the parables will either be meaningless or just another shallow story. You may get what they mean but they won't have value for you.

But Jesus says blessed are the eyes that see, and the ears that hear. But it's not like He doesn't want everybody to get it. It's not a matter of do you know Him or not, than it is a matter of having an open heart. He did say, "ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you".

The question then is, when God "humors" you, do you laugh or just shrug it off without even asking what it's all about? You don't need to scratch your head... you can always ask.