Believing the Good News of the

Kingdom

Parables

Stories drawn from life or nature which draws the reader to look at reality with a new set of glasses.

Parables

describe God’s initiative towards

us;

Parables

refer to how we receive the Kingdom of God (that emphasizes the kind of response needed to enter the Kingdom);

Parablesguide us how to live in the Kingdom of God (that deals with our relationship with other people)

Parables

and, remind us how to wait for the end-time (that refers to the future coming of the Kingdom)

Miracles

A manifestation of God’s presence and

power

Functions of Miracles

Miracle stories are revelatory (of Jesus

identity and mission).

Functions of Miracles

Miracle stories advance the

Kingdom of God.

Kinds of Miracles

•Healing (15)•Exorcism (5)•Resuscitation (2)•Nature (6)

Miracle Form

•Setting•Request•Response/Intervention•Result•Reaction

Setting

Sets up the characters, place and setting for the miracle which will soon take place.

Request

This manifests the problem needing Jesus’ intervention often explicit though this is not necessary at times.

Response

This is the intervention of Jesus, either by words and/or by actions.

Result

This is the action of Jesus, the cure or the resolution of the problem.

Reaction

Miracles are signs. This is the perception of those who experienced the sign.