Rubén Rosario Rodríguez, Ph.D. is the Clarence Louis and Helen Steber Professor of Theological Studies at Saint Louis University. His recent publications include Theological Fragments: Confessing What We Know and Cannot Know about an Infinite God (Westminster John Knox Press, 2023), and Calvin for the World: The Enduring Relevance of His Political, Social, and Economic Theology (Baker Academic, 2024). Dr. Rosario engages issues of global migration and social justice as director of the Mev Puleo Program in Latin American Politics, Theology, and Culture at Saint Louis University, and his first book, Racism and God-Talk: A Latino/a Perspective (New York University Press, 2008) won the 2011 Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Book Award in Theology. An ordained Presbyterian minister, he currently serves as moderator for the Commission on Preparation for Ministry in the Presbytery of Giddings-Lovejoy in St. Louis.

Presentation: "The Parables of Jesus"

Jesus's preaching was distinguished for the use of storytelling to convey compelling truths. Parables are short, open-ended stories that invite the reader into the narrative, to situate themselves in the story, and to work out their own interpretation. In effect, parables involve the listener in the outcome of the story and are designed to bring believers to a point of existential decision and moral action. Jesus drew upon an ancient tradition of Hebraic preaching in parables to convey the good news of the kingdom of God.