Day 32: As They Were Able to Understand (Mark 4:33–34)

By Sindhu Nadarajan · Thursday, November 5, 2026

"With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private." (Mk 4:33–34)

The close of the parables

Mark ends his chapter of parables with these two verses. St. John Chrysostom notes that Mark, who loves brevity, adds them to show how the parables work. After the sower, the lamp, the measure, the seed growing on its own, and the mustard seed, Mark tells us why Jesus taught this way.

A Teacher who meets us where we are

Jesus could have spoken plainly. He chose instead to speak "as they were able to understand it." Theophylact of Ohrid explains that because the crowd was unlearned, Jesus taught them using food and familiar names: seed, soil, lamps, and harvests. He matched his teaching to what his listeners already knew. That held their attention without overwhelming them. The Word does not crush the listener. He bends down to the listener's level.

An invitation to lean in

The parables also sift the hearer. To the lazy or hostile, they remain just stories (Mk 4:11–12). To those who hunger for truth, they are an invitation. Theophylact says Jesus spoke only in parables so that the people would be drawn to come closer and ask him. A parable is a door left open. Whoever cares enough will knock.

Explained in private

The disciples received the explanations, but not as favorites. They had left everything to follow him, and that gave them the capacity to receive holy truth. Theophylact adds that Jesus explained the things they did not understand and asked him about. The explanation followed the asking. Pseudo-Jerome says they were worthy to hear the mysteries apart because they had withdrawn from the crowd of evil thoughts into the solitude of virtue, and "wisdom is received in a time of quiet."

St. Charles Borromeo

St. Charles Borromeo lived both halves of this passage. As Archbishop of Milan after the Council of Trent, he taught the faith "as they were able to understand it." He promoted the Roman Catechism and spread schools of Christian doctrine, so that ordinary people and children could learn the faith. He also built seminaries where priests were formed apart, as the Twelve were, before being sent.

He knew that no one can explain the word to others without first being alone with the Lord. In his final synod sermon, he urged priests to meditate before, during, and after everything they do: before teaching, pray; while celebrating Mass, attend to what you offer; after ministering, return to the Lord. In that way we always stay "with him" in private, even in the middle of the crowd.

Ponder

• Do I treat the Word I don't understand as a closed door, or as an invitation to come closer and ask?

• Am I willing to stay after the crowd leaves, so Jesus can explain things to me alone?

• Like St. Charles, can I let one task today be framed by prayer, offered at the start, attended to in the middle, and reviewed at the end?

Note: If you forget to attend to the Lord in the middle, don't worry; finish with a prayer, and keep doing this. It takes time to develop a habit. You just have to keep at it.

Closing prayer

Lord Jesus, you speak to us as we are able to understand. Draw us closer, so that we never stay on the edge of the crowd. Give us quiet hearts to receive your word in private and the courage to share it with others. St. Charles Borromeo, faithful shepherd and teacher, pray for us. Amen.