Today’s reading is a parable-palooza, so sit tight and hit the pause button every now and again when you need a moment to think about what Jesus is teaching. A large crowd is following Jesus, so he gets into a boat and puts out a little from the shore, giving him natural amplification, as the water would have carried his voice. Much of today’s reading is occupied with the parable of the sower, which Jesus explains at length to his disciples. This is followed by two other agriculturally based parables, including the parable of the wheat and the weeds, the parable of the mustard seed, and the parable of the leaven. These are followed by more parables: the parable of the hidden treasure, the priceless pearl, the large net, and the storehouse of truth.