Gen 29.15-28; Ps 119.129-136; Rom
8.26-39; Mt 13.31-33,44-52
We start this
morning with these wonderful scriptures – these beautiful passages. And – not
surprisingly – we get more parables from Jesus. They’re shorter today, but they
are just as poignant and powerful as the ones we’ve heard the past few weeks.
And they talk about the Kingdom of God.
The underlying
message, however, is not just about the Kingdom – it’s about the people for
whom the Kingdom of God exists.
The Kingdom of God is meant to be accessible to everyone - the faithful, the
not-yet-faithful, the no-longer-faithful. It's meant to be realistic to us all
- and this is why Jesus speaks of it so often, and in so many different ways,
and contexts.
The Kingdom of God is what Jesus speaks about the most throughout the gospels.
And he speaks about it to anyone who will listen. Like the disciples. Or the
Pharisees. Or the common folks in between. Whatever the social standing of the
people to whom he is speaking, Jesus invites them all to hear about the good
news of the Kingdom of God in the same way - Let anyone with ears listen!
And he invites us, today, to hear these same messages of love and inclusion and
mission and ministry. He offers so many examples because there are so many ways
that we - ordinary everyday people - can share God's love and grace.
The Kingdom of God is about the extravagant sower from 2 weeks ago - because
the farmers and landowners needed to hear in a way they could understand that
God will share his love without limit around the world - and they are thus
invited to do the same.
The Kingdom of God is like the master who lets the weeds and wheat grow
together, from last week's Gospel - because the crowds who were gathered needed
to hear in a way they could understand that God's love and grace is not limited
to one-time human judgements.
The Kingdom of God. It's like the labourer with a sketchy past who is willin to
work in the fields for the love of his life. And when he is tricked out of his
intended marriage, does the right thing by both his love and her sister. And we
learn later that he continues with some... less-than-ideal behaviours, but this
ordinary guy Jacob will be used by God to help spread good news.
The Kingdom of God is like the psalmist who recognises that he's living in this
world, in this place where temptation is ever present but where the desire to
do Godly and righteous things is strong. He is very honest with God about
asking for help, about how to see the Kingdom more present in the here and the
now.
The Kingdom of God is like the Spirit who moves in and through us, and seeks
out the prayers of our hearts instead of catching in the words of our mouths.
It is a place where no human powers and no human strength will be able ot deny
love, or end love, or destroy love - for the Kingdom of God is a place where we
truly know, as Paul suggests, that we are never separated from the love of God
in Christ Jesus.
The Kingdom of God. It's all things to all people, as Jesus himself offers
almost unique descriptions of it.
To one, it is like a mustard seed - where size doesn't matter; but growth does.
Even the smallest beginning can be the greatest benefit to another.
To another, it is yeast; a substance that seems invisible yet has the power to
transform great quantities. In bread yeast prevents dullness and flatness;
likewise the presence of the Kingdom lifts God's people up and above the
world's
circumstances.
To yet another, Jesus speaks of the hidden treasure: the mere possibility of
which is so enticing that one would give up everything just for the
chance to attain it. The Kingdom of heaven, to one who has kept things hidden,
is a joy worth all that you have.
To another, still in the marketplace, the Kingdom of heaven is a known and much
desired valuable. It is the pearl of all pearls; it is uncommon and worth
looking for; a valued and valuable reality all by itself.
The Kingdom, to those feeling excluded, is like a net. The net includes
everyone, regardless of life circumstance, in one grand area, heading in one
direction. To think of Jesus' other sayings about the net catching the fish, we
celebrate that nets for Jesus mean abundance and nourishment - and the Kingdom
brings us all into that realm.
To another, who may have a bad reputation, the Kingdom is also waiting to
receive them and their talents and skills. The scribe, though often perceived
alongside the Pharisees as unfriendly to the mission of Jesus, was someone who
had authority and training and skills. And so even "those people" -
the people strongly disliked by Jesus' immediate audience - even those people
have a lot to offer in the Kingdom of Heaven - some old and some new - but all
included.
So once again, as we journey through these parables, we realise that Jesus is
challenging the status quo. He is inviting us to reconsider how we
understand our role in the world, and our role in the community that seeks the
Kingdom.
In a world that says on the rich matter... only the predominant culture matters...
only the famous people matter... only the important people matter... Jesus
says: the Kingdom is different. For in the Kingdom, you *all* matter. In the
kingdom, you are *all* important. In the Kingdom, none of these petty
differences and distinctions will carry any weight.
The kingdom of God, then, is like the most unlikely and unearthly thing that we
can think of. It's amazing and wondrous, it transcends our human limitations
and restrictions. It's a place of perfect love and inclusion; a place for
ordinary people. And, the Kingdom of God is as close as we will let it
be. Because it is there for all of us to understand, for all of us to grasp,
for all of us to share.
The Kingdom of God, then, is like the community who would listen to the words
of Jesus. They would give thanks, offer prayers, gather in worship and praise,
and share a meal. They would welcome the stranger, share with the less
fortunate, visit the sick, love everyone they met. They are normal people
celebrating the extraordinary love of God.
The Kingdom of God is within our reach. We can bring it even closer through our
ministries. For it is the delight of the Lord to share his love. So let all of
us, who have ears, hear; let all of us who hear take action.
With inspiration from Jennifer T.
Kaalund's commentary on workingpreacher.org
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