The world of Jesus' parables is the Galilean village.
Sunday's gospel, Luke 15:1-3, 11-32, is all about the kingdom and "You are Church!" A mantra of Louis Putz CSC and Joseph Cardijn.
"I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world." (Matthew 13:35)
Think of history, the life work of all the followers of Cardijn and the JOC movements globally. They are working for the kingdom of heaven here and how, just like Jesus asked.
In 1935, the Pope endorsed the Jocistas as an "authentic model" for activism and social action, describing them as resembling what we would now refer to as social democracy, liberation theology, and the practice of living the gospel.
Sunday's gospel is one of the most recognizable yet often misunderstood. The parable of the man with two sons evokes many biblical stories with similar themes. The parable's scandal arises from its subversion of the theme's power to differentiate between the chosen and the rejected. Notice that in the parable, there is no separation of goats from sheep or wheat from weeds; the elder son is neither disliked nor does the younger son receive a more significant portion. The elder is the heir: "All that is mine is yours." He is also not cast out to the wolves: "I am always with you."
This parable challenges any notion that the kingdom discriminates between the chosen and the rejected.
Here, the father rejects no one; both sons are chosen. He values neither morality nor inheritance. Instead, he focuses on the unity of his sons. The kingdom serves not to divide but to unify. The father does not cast anyone aside. The kingdom is universal and does not show exclusivity or special devotion to any particular interest in the world. This universalism does not depend on the exclusion of others. All people are called, regardless of the hand of cards they were dealt.
Consider and re-read the gospel story; read it aloud and hear the words. Imagine being a listener in the audience of Jesus, absorbing this parable. Would you have identified with the younger son? Back then, people did. In the ancient Mediterranean world, everyone had a social map that defined their place in society. It dictated who they were, their relationships, how to respond, and how to act. At the center of that map was the family, especially the father; next was the village, followed by the city and the world beyond. This social map serves as a metaphorical framework for the kingdom of God.
The world of Jesus' parables is the Galilean village.
The village lies between the family and the external world. Reflect on this about what Jesus communicates through his parables: The world that separates family from the outside realm, the greater Roman Empire as they perceived it, symbolizes the kingdom of heaven for the people.
Village life plays a crucial role in the existence of peasants, with their primary identity rooted in the village itself, as demonstrated by using the village name for personal identification (e.g., Jesus of Nazareth). Given the importance of village life, many of Jesus' parables draw upon the conventions of village life for their narratives.
The dynamics of village life offer a relatable framework for envisioning the kingdom of God for the audience Jesus is addressing.
In Galilee, absentee landlords exerted significant pressure on peasant solidarity, as depicted in the parables. At the same time, external forces heavily burdened the village. The influence of the outside world places the peasantry at a considerable disadvantage. Consider today the oligarchs, billionaires, various politicians, and dominant corporations that seem to control daily life in the village. Overbearing taxes on the peasants, coupled with none on the wealthy during this period, wars, harassment from urban areas, and foreign conquerors adversely affected life in Galilee. As an oppressed, conquered land, Galilee gave rise to its guerrilla movements in response. They were often referred to as Zealots.
A key point to remember, which is often misunderstood about the parable, is that it is a parable and not an allegory. The father does not represent God, and the elder son is not a church or religious leader; the story concerns a real family in a familiar situation that the people were experiencing.
Parables are challenging yet engaging within the cultural context of their time, and this is also true for you and me today. Understanding the cultural context of the stories helps us remember their significance.
You are the Church! We are working to bring about the Kingdom of Heaven here and now.
Now, think about the homily you heard about this parable. Did the homilist “utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world?"