July 26, 2020: Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
Matthew 13:31-33,44-52
Jesus put before the crowds another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”
He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”
“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
“Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
There are many different and conflicting messages in this day and age as to where our allegiance should lie. Political ads upholding a candidate or bashing another hound us. Images of our brutality to others who are different from us startle and repulse us, and challenge us to take a stand. Underneath all of it is a pervasive sense of fear, especially as we learn of the devastating impact of Covid 19. We are divided from one another politically and racially, and afraid on multiple levels of the pandemic which has uprooted our sense of wellbeing.
Jesus’ message to us today about the kingdom of heaven challenges us to think about what is important, and encourages us to reprioritize our values. Among other things, the parables of the mustard seed, the yeast, the treasure in the field and the pearl of great price ask us to put our trust in God. Jesus depiction of the kingdom of heaven as priceless, and something to be sought over all else, reminds us that we need to allow God to be the source of our strength and the guiding light of our lives.
But putting God first takes discipline and effort, and involves making choices every day. Choices about how we treat each other, choices about where to focus our energy. It is not enough for us to coast in blissful ignorance without thinking about the ramifications of our decisions, for what we do matters. What is the general orientation of our lives? To try to be conscious and loving individuals? Or to allow past hurts to keep us mired in darkness, focused on ourselves and what we believe to be true without self examination?
We can’t live faithful lives without God’s help. We need God’s strength to be kind, loving human beings, for by ourselves we can do nothing. Acknowledging our need for God’s grace is, in part, acknowledging the worth of the kingdom of heaven on a daily basis. As we cloak ourselves in prayer to allow God’s goodness and love to permeate our lives, we become transformed to make the kingdom of heaven a reality here on earth. Though the darkness of our world may seem all encompassing, by putting God first we can become beacons of light to others.
Well said, Sally! Place our trust in God…not ourselves!
Thank you, Barb! Something I need to remind myself of frequently . . .