July 27, 2008 Sermon
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Proper 12 - A
July 27, 2008 Allan Conkling
If you were to describe Jesus to someone who had never heard of him before, you would give examples of his role as savior, prophet, healer, miracle worker, and reconciler. One of his greatest gifts seems to have been as a teacher. Jesus seemed to have a way of capturing and holding people’s attention. He was not an orator. Nor did he use "dialogue" like Socrates or Plato which was a popular teaching style in those days. Instead Jesus taught using parables: brief sayings that conveyed a single point to give people things to think about.
If I asked you to tell me how you spent your summer vacation you might show me pictures or videos of the trip, or bring back mementos. You would also use "word pictures" to describe to me just what you did or what you saw. In a similar way, Jesus used word pictures to describe God's kingdom.
If you told me about your trip to New York, Padre Island, or the Grand Canyon I could picture those images in my mind, since I have also been there. But how would you describe the Kingdom of heaven? How can you describe the indescribable? That was Jesus' task as we read in the lessons today. Based on what the scripture says Heaven is a state of being, existing beyond the boundaries of time and space. It is both beyond us and yet within us right now. Were Jesus speaking today he might say God’s Kingdom is like a tiny cell. The cell divides and multiplies according to a set genetic code contained on the strand of the cell’s DNA, over and over again until a baby is formed, which continues to grow and mature, sometimes growing even as big as a professional football player or a 7'4" basketball player. Were Jesus teaching today he might say that the kingdom of Heaven is like one of those fertilizer ads showing a farmer with a 150 pound tomato on the back of a flat-bed truck. God is big...really, really big. And sometimes big things seem to come from the most insignificant places. God is nothing if not surprising, miraculous and at times extravagant!
In an age that prizes rationalism God talk might seem far-fetched. Who, other than a biologist really cares how a seed germinates, or how yeast leavens flour? I don't know of anyone who would buy a field just to get a buried treasure, although I do know folks who have purchased land for the mineral rights. But that is beside the point.
What is at issue is that these days, perhaps more than at any other time, we seem to be locked in a struggle to make sense of our existence. We have access to infinite knowledge...and yet wisdom seems to be a scarce commodity. Why are we here and what is the point of life? Why do we bother getting up in the morning when each day seems to be just as futile as the one just past? What makes this life worth living and how can we make a difference?
Too, we are at a disadvantage when it comes to language. For whatever the reason we have lost the ability to speak in symbols or allegory. We have lost our ability to paint "word pictures". Life is divided between reality or unreality, or virtual reality. We don't speak any more of spiritual reality. Symbols have become tools for advertising just as icons are things on the computer.
On the other hand, if we can hear with the ears of our heart (another word picture), God can bring big trees from little seeds or bread from yeast. For if God draws all of us as a fisher draws in a net, is there not hope for you and me?
Author Izaak Walton once said,
"God has two dwellings, one in heaven and the other in meek and thankful hearts."
So hear the good news today:
"In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8: 37-39)
From a small group of faithful disciples, came a message which would grow larger and larger, extending itself throughout the ages to where we are this morning. From this church issues forth the tidings of a great treasure awaiting all who would put their trust in God.
"If God is for us who can be against us?"
We don't need to have all the answers. Heck we don't even need to know how to pray:
"The spirit intercedes for us with sighs to deep for words."
The Christian witness is that indeed all things work together for good for those who love God. Our Creator has chosen unlikely objects for service: mustard seeds, yeast, a treasure buried in a field...and you and me, to bring in the Kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. Pray God to give us patience, perseverance, willing hearts and hands to serve others in Christ's name.
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Revised: 07/28/08