There is a saying, experience is the best teacher. That is not exactly true. It is reflecting on experience that teaches. Jesus taught in parables to invite his listeners to reflect on their experience. No doubt everyone in first century Galilee had seen a sower go out to sow. It only became revelatory when you reflected on that experience and saw a spiritual truth underlying the event. God continues to send us messages if we have the eyes to see and ears to hear. The kingdom of God is like a subway car filled with people. There is a group of teens talking in Spanish, over here a Chinese couple holding hands, a loud group standing by the door with White Sox shirts on, a young African-American rocking to his ear buds, a harried looking mother watching her shopping bag as she tries to keep her kids in their seat, a man in rumpled clothes sleeping in corner. Whoever has ears, let them hear!
