To the left of the altar, the stained glass windows depict some of the great parables of Jesus - stories which He used to relate important teachings. The first window shows the Parable of the Publican and the Pharisee as told in Luke 18:10. The story describes the prideful piety of the Pharisee who thanked God that he wasn’t like other men who were greedy and dishonest. On the other hand, the Publican only stood in the background and beat his breast saying, “Lord, have mercy upon me a sinner”. It is interesting to note that a Pharisee was one of the religious leaders of that time, while the Publican, a tax collector, was considered the worst of sinners. In this story, Christ teaches us that we should be aware of our own sins and be humble, without judging others.
The middle window depicts Christ in the home of Mary and Martha. Luke 10:38 tells that Martha was busy tending to household chores while her sister Mary only sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His teaching. When Martha complained to our Lord that she had to do all the work alone, Christ answered, “Mary has chosen the right thing”. Today we get so wrapped up in our lives; taking care of our homes, going to work, etc. that we lose sight of the really important things in life. By using the example of Mary and Martha, Christ reminds us that the kingdom of God must be the first priority in our lives.
The last window is of the Parable of the Good Samaritan, which is recorded in Luke 10:30. This story is about a Jewish traveler who was beaten and robbed by a band of men and left dying in the roadway. Several people passed by him, indifferent to his plight. Finally, a Samaritan came and took care of him. It is important to remember that Samaritans and Jews did not get along with each other. They would not even associate with one another. With this story, Jesus taught that we should show concern for each person regardless of their status in life.
The windows on the opposite side picture scenes from the life of Christ. The first window shows the Flight into Egypt, which is recorded in Matthew 2:13. King Herod was determined to kill the Christ Child since he feared Him as a threat to his rule. This forced Joseph to flee with his family to Egypt until Herod died. This scene reminds us that the message of the Gospel does not always bring peace and happiness. If we intend to be true followers of Christ, we can expect much hardship and disappointment. Christ experienced this throughout His life, even at His birth!
The middle window portrays the Holy Family at home in Nazareth. This window was selected as a reminder to all who see it of the importance of the Christian family. There is no more important job on earth than that of a father and mother. It is often the experience of one’s family life that helps to shape one’s future.
The last window depicts a much-loved scene, Christ blessing the little children. “Let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matthew 19:l3). Why does the Kingdom of heaven belong to children? Christ said this because of the innocence and simple faith that children possess. Christ teaches us that we must have this purity and complete dependence upon God in order to enter His Kingdom.
