Meditations on the Parables of Jesus

by Thomas Keating

Revising much of the content originally published in The Kingdom of God Is Like , and adding selected material from Awakenings and Reawakenings , Thomas Keating continues to stir the Christian imagination with insightful commentary on the parables of the Bible. Including the Mustard Seed, the Narrow Door, the Penitent Woman, the Sower, the Prodigal Son, and others, this collection of corresponding meditations renews the voice and vigor of each parable's deeper meaning—so often overlooked through familiarity and fame. Originally told to seekers in an ancient land, each parable—packed with clues about the meaning of life, the nature of God, and the purpose of creation—has as much relevance and resonance as ever for both teaching the lessons of God and his mercy and for understanding the daily struggles of today’s fast-paced world.

Genres: Spirituality, Religion

144 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2010

About the author

Keating entered the Cistercian Order in Valley Falls, Rhode Island in January, 1944. He was appointed Superior of St. Benedict's Monastery, Snowmass, Colorado in 1958, and was elected abbot of St. Joseph's Abbey, Spencer, Massachusetts in 1961. He returned to Snowmass after retiring as abbot of Spencer in 1981, where he established a program of ten-day intensive retreats in the practice of Centering Prayer, a contemporary form of the Christian contemplative tradition.

He is one of three architects of Centering Prayer, a contemporary method of contemplative prayer, that emerged from St. Joseph's Abbey in 1975. Frs. William Menninger and Basil Pennington, also Cistercian monks, were the other architects.
n 1984, Fr. Thomas Keating along with Gustave Reininger and Edward Bednar, co-founded Contemplative Outreach, Ltd., an international, ecumenical spiritual network that teaches the practice of Centering Prayer and Lectio Divina, a method of prayer drawn from the Christian contemplative tradition. Contemplative Outreach provides a support system for those on the contemplative path through a wide variety of resources, workshops, and retreats.
Fr. Keating currently lives at St. Benedict's Monastery in Snowmass, Colorado.

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate that it's short and readable at < 150 pages. I learned a few new tidbits to put specific parables in context of Jewish culture. But I'm weary of Thomas Keating's interpretations. He seems to think the Bible is a flawed written document which sort of captures the oral history of the early Church, but not to his satisfaction. It's the attitude of a historian, not a christian pastor. I see zero regard for the Bible as holy scripture guided and formed and preserved by the Holy Spirit, God himself.

For example, Thomas Keating happily refers to the Gospel of Thomas in his interpretations. The Gospel of Thomas is not canon. Yes, there are some interesting passages in isolation, but let's be honest. There's a lot of garbage in the GoT too. It is nowhere close to scripture. A Christian pastor should not be using the GoT to inform their faith, or should only do so with the highest care and vigilance. To Keating it just seems to be another primary source with equal validity as the canonical gospels.

For another example, the parable of the Mustard seed, he criticizes every Gospel writer who include the parable (Luke, Matthew, Mark). He suggests that Jesus must have actually said something else, and Matthew Mark and Luke all screwed up the telling of this parable because "The oral tradition was evidently influenced by the old expectations of grandeur as people gradually flipped back into their former mindsets." I know parable interpretations are subjective, but Keating is suggesting that HE knows what Jesus meant and all three Gospels get it wrong?!?! Come on....

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas Keating takes a close look at the parables of Jesus and what a rich experience this is!

This is the kind of book I could read over and over.

[Ptaylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is suggested reading for a week long Academy of Spiritual Formation sponsored by the Upper Room I plan to attend later this year. Short, powerful, and easy to read. Keating takes the parables Jesus told and gives new insight into their meaning. While he describes the impact each one probably had on Jesus' audience, he shows us how the parables have meaning and application in our daily lives. Yes, God loves us. Yes, the Kingdom of Heaven is open to all, and yes, there are actions we can and should take, attitudes/ideas/beliefs we can and should examine to show His love. Highly recommended.

[Tanja Nayak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reverend Thomas Keating had incredible insight and depth of knowledge when it came to understanding the parables of Jesus.

I had read the parables of Jesus before and remember them from Sunday school at the Lutheran Church in Bryanston, but when I read Keating's book I was introduced to the parables in a whole new light through the deep absorption of considering these stories and their meaning as relating to centering prayer.

Would definitely recommend this book for the novice or seasoned spiritual seeker. A lovely book by an insightful man. I have read and re-read it several times and always learn something new with each reading.

[Dennis Kessinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, Meditative, Exquisite in its Simplicity

An insightful and gentle book on the parables that we may be familiar with but have not explored them deeply. Certainly worth re-reading but now on to the next Thomas Keating book.

[Teresa Lynn Ramsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the finest meditations on the parables of Jesus that I have read. I keep using this book for referencing.

[John Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

You cannot go wrong with Keating. And his perspective on these well-known stories of Jesus will keep you thinking and praying for a long time, in new and powerful ways.