Today's Gospel is limited to the explanation of the parable of the darnel. The catechist has his part to play in its explanation. Jesus simply says, "Listen, anyone who has ears!," and let the audience do the rest. For a better understanding of parable literature, we may read Mt 13:34-35 (just before today's Gospel): The evangelist says that Jesus always spoke in parables, and to justify it he quotes a verse of Psalm 78, "I will speak to you in parables, and expound things hidden since the foundation of the world." Hidden, until now, but now the Word of the Father has become man, and will reveal those "hidden things" in parables, that is, in human language. Parables are human stories that help us to understand divine truths. So, in Matthew, parables are intended to make the doctrine more understandable. But in Mark it is the contrary! (See Mk 4:11-12). Taken literally, Isaiah and Mark say that God (Jesus) speaks in parables, that is in "obscure language," lest the hearers understand the teaching, and be converted and saved! Obviously, this is a sarcastic way of blaming people who close their hearts to the truth. Definitely parables are human stairs lifting us to the divine.