This is one of those times when our gospel lesson tells us too little! To understand today's parable we must first understand the reference to "these things." Events previously reported are the important antecedents to today's reading. "As they heard these things, he [Jesus] proceeded to tell a parable." Luke assumes that his readers know what "things" they (and Jesus' original audience) have been hearing. As we hear the lesson read, we have little chance of knowing. Few are likely to remember that "these things" refers to the story of the conversion of Zacchaeus, a text that we studied five weeks ago!'

Just What Are "These Things?"

It must have seemed to the disciples that Jesus' popularity with the crowds and the powers of conversion would converge in this mission to Jerusalem and woul…