Benedict reading my mind

So far, as I'm reading Jesus of Nazareth, the Pope has touched on lots of things that I have always wondered. For example, what does it mean when Jesus says that He speaks in parables so that others 'may see and yet not see, hear and yet not understand, unless they turn and God will forgive them'? Seems kine mean...

"Prophets fail: Their message goes too much against the general opinion and the comfortable habits of life. It is only through failure that their word becomes efficacious... Above all, it is also again and again the destiny of Jesus Christ: He ends up on the Cross. But that very Cross is the source of great fruitfulness." (p.189)

Or why do they call it the story of the Prodigal Son when really there's a lot more going on?

"In reality, though, the parable has three protagonists... the most accurate designation would be the parable of the two brothers." (p. 202)

Keep it coming!