The Rev. David Vivero of All Souls Catholic Church in Sanford shared a reflection in the July 26 weekly church bulletin.

Vivero explained that Jesus teaches through parables in the Bible in order to give us “earthly stories with heavenly meaning.”

“Examples of old familiar images of kings, father, shepherds, farmers, treasures, harvest, pearl, net, etc. – they are not new images but old images providing appropriate meaning and relevancy to the present times,” Vivero wrote. “This is how God talks to us, in parables. There is true joy in embracing God; there is personal damnation when we reject God, even though He never fails to give us grace.”

Our job as followers of Christ is to accept the grace that he grants to us and understand the sovereignty of God, understanding that He is the creator and redeemer and by giving glory and praise to Him for his faithfulness and willingness to reach down to us.