Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
[Jesus] put before them 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.”
I was grateful for today’s Gospel in a different kind of way this week. With everything going on in the world, my last few sermons have been pretty heavy, it seemed. And this one could be, too, of course. The parables can be as challenging and as heavy and as hard as anything, but I don’t have it in me to go there again today. I’m not sure what was going on in the news the day Jesus rattled off these parables about the Kingdom of Heaven – it seems impossible they were having a year like we’ve had so far in 2020, but who knows? Whatever the case, I found myself just wanting to muse about Jesus’ penchant for painting a picture of the Kingdom of Heaven – those mustard seeds, that yeast and flour, the treasure in a field, the merchant, the fine pearl and the fishing net, too.
I – and countless other preachers and theologians – have dissected and theologized and philosophized and pontificated about the deep meaning behind each of these parables. Volumes have been written about the meaning of the mustard seed. Tomes have been written about the treasure in the field. Pages and pages and paragraph after paragraph have been penned about fine pearls, and all the rest.
So usually, when this Gospel collection of Jesus’ parables shows up, I pick one and run with it, adding my two cents to what so many, smarter more faithful preachers than me, have already said about any one of these images of the Kingdom.
So, this time around, I decided to wonder about all of them together. And I thought it seems possible that maybe Jesus is more like brainstorming with himself or spit-balling at a board meeting more than he is preaching to or teaching the disciples anything he’s absolutely certain about with these parables. (This whole section of parables in Matthew’s Gospel begins with Jesus taking a seat by the sea, then getting into a boat when the crowds surround him. He may not have been out there prepared to preach and teach at all that day when he said these things.)
So I’m just wondering, what if this litany of parables is more like Jesus musing outloud and trying to find the words himself to describe the Kingdom of Heaven to his friends and followers in some way that makes sense. After all, all of those parables, full of their metaphors and analogies and illustrations and teaching moments don’t, frankly – in their details – have a whole lot in common. But, taken together, I realized, their message and meaning seem to say two pretty simple, but profound, holy, and inspiring Truths.
First … the kingdom of heaven is all around us, all of the time, in simple, surprising, everyday things. (In seeds and fields, in treasure and pearls, in flour and fishing nets, and all the rest.)
And second … you know it when you see it.
So, first things first … the kingdom of heaven is all around us, all of the time. And I’m not talking about “samples” of the kingdom. Not “images” of the kingdom. Not “illustrations” or “metaphors” or “analogies” or mere “approximations” of the kingdom. But I believe the Good News of Jesus was and is that the Kingdom of Heaven IS. The Kingdom of Heaven is alive and well and around us, now, right where we sit or stand, and out there in the world, too.
And, again, we know it when we see it. We feel it when it finds us. We are moved by the Kingdom when we sense that we’re moving within the Kingdom.
So, I wonder … have you seen it? Have you experienced it lately? Have you witnessed your life and faith coming together in ways that might have felt a little bit like heaven on earth? If you were by the sea in Galilee, spit-balling with Jesus about what the Kingdom of Heaven might be like, what would you suggest to keep the conversation going?
I have some ideas, but I’d love to hear yours. (This is the “crowd participation” portion of the sermon that most Lutherans would only do by way of Zoom, so I thought I’d take advantage of it. Because you can share your ideas with me or with everybody using the “Chat” feature at the bottom of your screen. You don’t actually have to talk in church! If you want to be even more shy and anonymous, even, send me a private Chat message and I won’t tell who said what.)
No pressure, though. I’m going share some from my own spit-balling and brainstorming and invite you to sit with them for a moment or so. Some are specific and particular. Some are more universal and common ground we all might share in one way or another. Whatever the case, I hope we can reflect on and relish the Kingdom among us, this morning, so that we might recognize it more often in the magnificent and the mundane of our daily lives going forward.
I think the Kingdom of Heaven is like holy communion in your living room or kitchen, these days.
I think the Kingdom of Heaven is like an acoustic guitar and a cleverly turned lyric, something like John Prine or the Indigo Girls, if I had my pick.
Speaking of a cleverly turned lyric. I read this poem, this week, written by a four-year old with a book deal. (I’m not sure if the Kingdom of Heaven is like a four year-old with a book deal, but this poem is pretty great.)
Coming Home Nadim Shamma-Sourgen (4 years old)
Take our gloves off. Take our shoes off.
Put them where they’re supposed to go.
You take off your brave feeling
Because there’s nothing
to be scared of in the house:
no dark caves, no monsters,
no witches, no bees, no howling sounds
You don’t need your brave anymore.
Wash your hands. Eat lunch. Go get cozy.
I think the Kingdom of Heaven is not needing your “brave” anymore.
I think the Kingdom of Heaven is the smell of puppy breath.
I think the Kingdom of Heaven is like making love and meaning it.
I think the Kingdom of Heaven is being able to offer forgiveness, fully; and to receive it, fully, just the same.
I think the Kingdom of Heaven is the perfect gift – given or received.
I think the Kingdom of Heaven is like baseball’s opening day and the Buckeye Marching Band taking the field on a perfect Fall Saturday afternoon.
I think the Kingdom of Heaven is a well-earned vacation.
The Kingdom of Heaven is justice done … mercy extended … gracious compassion.
I think the Kingdom of Heaven will happen later this morning when the body of Representative John Lewis is marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, one last time, as part of his life’s celebration.
I think the Kingdom of Heaven is when the healing comes … and I think it’s also the ability to muster hope when it doesn’t.
I think the Kingdom of Heaven is saying goodbye and walking out the door for the last time, knowing you’ve said all there is to say.
I think the Kingdom of Heaven is the ability to preach a sermon without words.
The Kingdom of Heaven is like laughter that brings tears and belly aches and more laughter, still.
I think the Kingdom of Heaven is that sound or scent or song or season that pleasantly surprises you with the memory of a moment or a person or a place you haven’t thought about in a while.
Today – and in these days, especially, perhaps, – we are called to see and to be the Kingdom of Heaven for one another and for the sake of the world. And today, Jesus reminds us that we are surrounded by the Kingdom at every turn. God is relentless about showing us the Kingdom in our midst. And I think Jesus means to open our hearts and our minds and our eyes so that we will see it more often and rest assured and be at peace and find joy in its fullness – on earth as it is in heaven.
Amen
P. S. Thankfully, Zoom recorded the “crowd participation” portion of the sermon, since I couldn’t see or say all of the Chat replies in real time. Below is the complete list of responses, from those in both worship services, about the ways and places they’ve seen or experienced the Kingdom of Heaven lately. Thanks for playing along.
Baptisms
The kingdom is in laughter.
The kingdom is in the smile of a child.
Neighbors coming together during the pandemic – in distant ways, outside.
The rising chorus demanding justice for all people.
I see it when I am walking on the open space trail with the Rocky Mountains to the west.
When a grandchild looks at you with adoring eyes and says "I love you Grandma."
In the beauty and abundance of nature around us on our patio this morning.
Knowing that God brought my husband home from the hospital to still be with me.
Watching families being together in the outdoors as I ride my bicycle.
In the blooming of flowers.
From the playfulness of the four paws in our lives.
Neighbors who watch over and are there for me!
The beauty of nature God has given us.
We had a beautiful granddaughter born this week!!!
Neighbors sharing meals.
Watching a brilliant sunset last weekend.
The joy of kids cannonball jumping into a swimming pool.
Love of dogs and cats and their ways to make a bad day better.
We saw seagulls turning pink in the sunset over Lake Erie.
A momma duck and her babies gliding on the pond.
Every time we work with the food pantry.
Lindsey's Thursday night yoga on the labyrinth.
Wonderful conversations with friends and family.
Double rainbow.
Being on a boat on a lake!
Abby caught the ball yesterday getting the batter out and Ginny reinvigorated the team for a win.
Walking on the beach.
Watching the sunset over the ocean.
Feeling safe on a huge roller coaster.
