PAKI-EXPLAIN!

“I don’t need the church. I can read the bible & pray to God directly.”

That’s a message I received from someone who read one of my FB posts.

True, we can learn about the faith by ourselves. God gave us intelligence to think & learn.

But we cannot do it alone.

Look at the disciples. Jesus was with them personally. Yet, they did not get it immediately. That’s why they asked Jesus, in today’s Gospel, to “explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.” (Matthew 13:36)

Sometimes, THE MORE THAT WE THINK THAT WE UNDERSTAND IT, THE MORE WE NEED HELP UNDERSTANDING IT.

Matthew 13:36 says that Jesus "left the crowds and went into the house.” Then Jesus explains the parable to the disciples inside the house (Matthew 13:37-43).

Let’s review Matthew 13:36-37. These two verses speaks about - LEAVING THE CROWD, GOING INTO THE HOUSE & LISTENING TO JESUS.

• "The CROWD". That’s your busyness. That’s your work, your dreams or plans. Sometimes, they can even be “good things" but they prevent you from entering the “house”. What's your CROWD? You need to find time to leave the CROWD so you can go to the next step.
• "GO INTO THE HOUSE”. What’s that house? That’s the Church! It’s the one that Jesus founded in Matthew 16:18. The Church where HE appointed Peter as the leader. The Church is where God wants to teach you. Matthew 28:20 says that we need to be taught so we can "observe all that I (Jesus) have commanded you.” The Church is the place where we can be train & taught the Word of God.
• "LISTEN TO JESUS". Remember the story of Mary & Martha? Martha was so burdened with the chores that she asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her (Luke 10:40). Jesus replies "Mary has chosen the better part & it will not be taken from her” (Luke 10:42). The better part is always to take time to listen to Jesus.

Lastly, it does not end there. Jesus calls you to the Church so you can invite more people to be part of The Church. In Matthew 28:19 HE commands us to "Go, therefore, & make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit"

Being part of the Church is a blessing. It’s where God wants you to be. Have a blessed Tuesday! - alvinfabella@yahoo.com