16th Sunday in Ordinary Time: Why Does Jesus Teach with Parables?

One of the interesting things that we notice about the parables that Jesus tells this week and last week is that the disciples don't understand. They wait until they are alone with Jesus and then ask him to explain the parables he has just told. Which begs the question, "Why did Jesus use parables, if they are difficult to understand?" While it's true that the message Jesus intends by the parable may not be immediately clear, the parables contain images from everyday life that would have been easily perceived by his audience. So the image is clear even if the message is not. So what Jesus is doing with the parables is inviting reflection; He invites us to enter into the mystery. So let's do that by spending time with the Gospel each week in preparation for Sunday Mass.