Parables: Moral Stories for Catholics

• Parables are short tales that illustrate a truth or life lesson, primarily using human characters, differing from fables that often involve animals or fantasy.
• Parables serve as moral stories for Catholic Christians, aiding in their spiritual growth.

Parable of the Talents

• Values emphasized include fairness, responsibility, and accountability.
• Fairness is reflected in the distribution of talents based on individual abilities.
• Responsibility involves recognizing talents as personal possessions.
• Accountability means being answerable for how talents are used.

Types of Parables

• Parables describing the King/God reveal His nature, qualities, and attitude towards people.
• Examples include the Parable of the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, and Lost Son, which depict God as merciful.
• The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard emphasizes fairness.
• Parables emphasizing the response needed to enter the Kingdom highlight humility and simplicity.
• The Parable of the Pharisees and the Tax Collector exemplifies humility and simplicity.
• The Parable of the Rich Fool encourages using wealth to help others.
• The Parable of the Talents stresses using and improving one's talents.
• Parables dealing with relationships with other people include the Unforgiving Servant and the Good Samaritan.
• In the context of the Good Samaritan, goodness can be found in unexpected places.
• Parables referring to the future coming of the Kingdom include the Wedding Feast and the Ten Virgins.
• The Wedding Feast symbolizes rejoicing in the Kingdom of God.
• The Ten Virgins highlight the need for preparedness, as the timing of the Second Coming and final judgement is unknown.
• The Weeds among the Wheat parable uses weeds to symbolize Hell and wheat to symbolize Heaven.

Themes of Parables

• God’s loving mercy is central to the Good News.
• Everyone is called to enter the Kingdom.
• The Kingdom demands repentance and perseverance.
• Rejoicing and hopefulness are key themes.

Understanding Parables

• Characters: identify the main characters involved in the story.
• Plot: understand the sequence of events.
• Values: discern the lesson Jesus wants to teach.
• Type/Theme: categorize the parable by type or theme.
• Practicum: apply the lesson to your own life.

Specific Parables

• The Parable of the Mustard Seed illustrates how something small can grow into something great, symbolizing the Kingdom of Heaven.
• The Parable of the Sower describes the seed sown on the path as someone who hears but doesn't understand the Word of God.
• The Parable of the Lost Son teaches that everyone is precious and valued by God.
• The Parable of the Dishonest Steward advises careful management of worldly goods.
• The Parable of the Good Samaritan promotes universal love and compassion, regardless of background or beliefs.
• The Parable of the Lost Sheep demonstrates that the Kingdom of God welcomes all, even sinners, and God seeks out those who have strayed.

Miracles

• Jesus manifests God’s love through miracles.
• The Latin term "miraculum," meaning "to marvel," and "mirari," meaning "to wonder," are origins of the word miracle.
• A miracle is an experience of wonder and marvel.
• Miracles are signs of the Kingdom of God in action and manifestations of Jesus’ power over all creation.
• Miracles are phenomena that cause surprise, curiosity, astonishment, amazement, and shock.

Types of Miracles performed by Jesus:

• Healing miracles relieve physical suffering and illness.
• Nature miracles demonstrate control over natural forces.
• Exorcisms demonstrate power over evil spirits.
• Restoring life miracles bring the dead back to life.

Examples of Miracles

• Healing miracles include the healing of the two blind men and the paralytic.
• Nature miracles include the calming of the storm at sea, the feeding of the multitude, and the Wedding at Cana.
• Exorcism miracles include the healing of the Gerasene demoniacs.
• Restoring life miracles include the raising of the widow’s son and the raising of Lazarus.

Five Parts of a Miracle Story

• Condition: describes what needs healing.
• Dialogue: expresses the need for healing.
• Gesture: details the action taken.
• Testimony: Includes Jesus’ words or the person’s expression of faith.
• Response: shows the reaction of witnesses, presentation of the healed person, or Jesus giving reminders.

Miracles in Everyday Life

• Everyday miracles often go unnoticed because they are not seen as unexplainable events.
• God's ongoing creation is a continuous miracle.
• A person's change of heart or conversion is a miracle through the grace of God.
• Modern-day miracle workers use their talents to bring people closer to the Kingdom of God.
• Social transformation, or steps taken to improve the world, contributes towards the attainment of the Kingdom of God.
• Humans are God's greatest miracle.

Lenten Season

• Lent commemorates Jesus' passion, death, and resurrection.
• It is a 40-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving.
• Lent is a journey towards the glory of God, symbolizing a springtime renewal.
• The Lenten season spans 40 days, excluding Sundays.
• The term "kuwaresma" is derived from the Latin "quadragesima," signifying forty.
• The number 40 is a traditional number of purification in the Bible.
• Moses stayed in Egypt for 40 years.
• The Israelites were in the desert for 40 years.
• Noah's ark experienced 40 days of rain.
• Moses was on Mt. Sinai for 40 days.
• Jesus fasted in the desert for 40 days.

Fasting vs. Abstinence

• Fasting typically involves one full meal a day with two smaller meals that do not exceed the quantity of the full meal.
• Abstinence means refraining from eating meat.

Three Pillars of Lent

• Almsgiving involves giving to those in need, demonstrating love, and participating in community worship. Almsgiving is not only material.
• Prayer is an opportunity to deepen one's relationship with God through personal reflection and community worship.
• Fasting is a time to refrain from certain foods or habits as a form of self-discipline and sacrifice.
• The Lenten atmosphere focuses on drawing the senses closer to God, which is why the saints are covered, flowers are removed, and quiet music is played.
• True Penance involves turning away from a sinful lifestyle.
• On the 5th Sunday of Lent, the crucifix is covered, symbolizing Jesus hiding before His crucifixion.
• A Retablo represents heaven and contains many saints.

Palm Sunday

• Palm Sunday, also known as Passion Sunday, marks the final Sunday of Lent and the start of Holy Week.
• It commemorates the triumphant arrival of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem as Savior and King.

Holy Week Traditions

• Pasyon/Pabasa: religious writings or poems about the story of Jesus’s Christ’s passion and death that is being sung.
• Some communities begin the Pasyon/Pabasa on Palm Sunday.
• Penitensya: penitents walk in the streets or carry a wooden cross to repent for their sins.
• Senakulo: play depicting the life and passion of Jesus Christ, derived from the Spanish word "cenáculo," the location of the Last Supper.
• Visita Iglesia: A tradition on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, involving visits to at least seven different churches.
• The purpose of Visita Iglesia is to pay respect to the blessed sacrament and seek atonement for sins.

Paschal Mystery

• The term "Paschal Mystery" comes from "Pesach," the Hebrew word for Passover.
• The Paschal Mystery commemorates the Passover from the death of the firstborn, liberation from Egypt, and the Parting of the Red Sea.
• It is about Jesus' Passion, Death, and Resurrection.
• The Paschal Mystery commemorates Jesus' passover sacrifice on the Cross, where He became the sacrificial lamb for humanity's sins.
• Through this sacrifice, the gates of heaven are opened.

Last Supper

• The Washing of the Feet represents Jesus' life of loving service and sets an example for dealing with ordinary people.
• The Institution of the Eucharist: Jesus established the sacrament of His body and blood.
• Mandate of Love: Jesus commands to "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another," establishing a new standard of love like His, or being "Christ-like".

Paschal Sacrifice: Death and Resurrection of Jesus

• Jesus foretold His suffering, death, and resurrection to His disciples.
• Intense anguish and sorrow: Jesus experienced distress over the impending suffering and crucifixion, feeling overwhelmed with the weight of humanity's sins.
• Judas' Betrayal: Judas made a secret agreement with religious leaders to betray Jesus.
• Judas would identify Jesus to the soldiers with a kiss.
• Trial before Pilate: Jewish leaders brought Jesus before Pontius Pilate seeking the death penalty, changing the charge to sedition.

Good Friday:

• Jesus was sentenced to death by crucifixion.
• Jesus' death was a sacrifice for the sins of humanity, atoning for the sins of the world and offering salvation to believers.
• Jesus' death represents the ultimate act of love, as highlighted in John 3:16.
• Jesus’ death also marks the beginning of a new covenant between God and humanity.
• The Resurrection confirms Jesus' divinity, proving He is the Son of God and fulfilling prophecies of triumph over death.
• Resurrection: it represents victory over sin and death,