The challenges of Jesus’ parables

Over the last several weeks, as St. Luke’s Gospel has unfolded in our Sunday readings, some of us may have been reminded of a famous line from one of the first episodes of “The Chosen,” when the shocked apostles have a hard time accepting the way Jesus does things. “That’s different,” someone says.
He responds simply, “Get used to different.”
The quote isn’t remotely biblical, but it sums up what we have been hearing in Luke. It reminds us: Jesus broke the rules and shattered the status quo. We see it again in this week’s Gospel.

Jesus challenges his followers​

If anyone around Galilee had been following Jesus, they knew that this itinerant preacher had a knack for telling a story. He knew how to throw in a few unexpected twists — the outcome was often a shock. Again and again, Jesus challenged people to discover that things aren’t always what they seem. Samaritans can be good; prodigal sonscan be loved and welcomed home; and — as we hear this Sunday — even tax collectors can be saved.

Really?
Yes. Really.

Continued below.