The anectodal or the essential ?

"By many similar parables, [Jesus] told them the Word according to what they could understand ; But he did not speak to them without a parable ; And in private, he explained everything to his disciples." Mark 4:33, 34

Today traditional pedagogy is no longer accepted. It is no longer sufficient to provide a solidly argued and logically structured teaching. In all areas, the interest of listeners, their active participation, the use of images, and the conciseness of a message for their attention must be carefully realized. A teaching that is not illustrated no longer truly catches the audience, or, at best, catches it without being impressed in the memories ; It communicates intellectual knowledge but hardly reaches the hearts of listeners.

Why would things be different in the Church when it is made up of people who live in today's society ? It is not because the Holy Spirit is present that the preacher has no responsibility to adapt himself to the public (see Acts 17: 3). Besides, the preaching in the churches has evolved a lot. They have become a mixture of anecdotes and teaching of a magisterial type. Should we react to that ?

Let's read the Gospels ! It will be an opportunity to see that the teaching that is constantly illustrated is a biblical legacy ! What we are witnessing is therefore a return to the Lord's pedagogy ! So do not deprive us of it and deprive those who need to hear something from it. Of course, it is not a matter of telling stories to please those who listen, but of illustrating with balance and appropriateness the spiritual teaching that we want to emphasize.

Let us learn from the Lord by observing how he spoke. He left us a large number of images to illustrate his thought, for example in the Sermon on the Mount (verse of the day). Like him, let us illustrate the essential by the anecdotal. The Lord did not speak to amuse, to be applauded or admired, he spoke to be listened to and understood.

And above all, since we are the slaves of the Lord, let us remember the best way to "decorate" the teaching : let us show submission to the Holy Spirit. Let us reject impiety and covetousness, and live with sobriety, justice and piety (Titus 2: 10-12). Finally, let us be a vivid illustration of what we preach !

Source (To pleasing the Lord)