We believe in God
Who has created us and sustains us
Who has come in Jesus
To reconcile and make new
Who works in us by the Spirit
So that we should be the church on earth.
Song “Brother Sister” https://youtu.be/0JahFRDrSCs
God of love and forgiveness
Save us by your tenderness
From each deed that is destructive
From careless thinking
From words that hurt
Save us by your love and forgiveness. In Jesus Name we pray. Amen
The Lord Prayer in our own language
The young people leave us and we say “May the Lord be with you”
Song “Ubi Caritas” https://youtu.be/X9e_QO1ATho
Reflection on Matthew 13v44-52
Jesus used parables to convey Gods truth, particularly for people with ears that do not hear. These parables usually begin with the phrase "the kingdom of God or heaven is like....." It is within an environment of disbelief and opposition that Jesus used parables.
The phrase "the kingdom of God" or "the kingdom of heaven" to Jews, would have been highly charged. The kingdom of God is Jesus, the Jewish Messiah is establishing the reign of God.
The seed is the word of God, the gospel. The parable is the gospel in riddle form (Heb. a masal), for those who reject a clear word from God.
The Mustard Seed is one of the smallest seeds you can sow. In the background of the story is Psalm 104 and Ezekiel 17, Gods people finding shelter. The seed keeps on growing until it becomes so big that birds can perch in its shade, nest in it, live in it. A tiny kitchen herb! It’s a picture of Gods world, a parable of sustainability. Our lives should be sustainable for us and all living things. Its an eco-parable!
Great events have small beginnings. A thought, a word, a small action can multiply goodness and create Gods kingdom.
Jesus goes on to give other illustrations of what Gods world is like.
Its like yeast mixed in with flour. Note how he is being gender inclusive!
It’s like a treasure that was hidden or buried. It’s like the Staffordshire hoard! It was buried in a field and a man found it! He covered it up to keep it a secret and went off and bought the field. He was very happy. Big lottery day!
Its like a collector looking for pearls. He found one very rare expensive pearl. He sold everything else he had and bought the one pearl. Its like a fishing net. A dragnet is a casting net. A very long net with floats on one edge and weights on the other, that circles the fish and draws them in. It was operated from the shore. When it was full it was pulled up the fish onto the shore and they sat down to sort them into baskets, the good in one basket, the bad thrown away. Sorting the good from the bad.
Do we understood these things Jesus taught?
The household of God has been instructed. We are also householders of the whole earth (oikos) and this has much to say to us about how we should be protecting the earth in a time of fires and floods (economy). We are responsible. We are Gods stewards of the earth. Be prepared to sell all you have for what is real treasure. Use what treasures you have to create goodness, the gospel, the reign of God in your life, and for the earth, the soil, the kingdom of heaven.
Go and sow seeds of goodness, sell everything for Gods treasure, the pearl of great price and you will be at peace, You will find Gods peace. Amen
|
Song “Take our bread” https://youtu.be/Qs9dIV43WS0
We are called to be the church
To celebrate God's presence
To love and serve others
To seek justice and resist the destructive
To live the life of Christ
By the presence of God's Spirit within us.
