| Date Preached: August 24, 2008 |
Texts: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-45 |
Is the Kingdom of God a big family? Yes, in a sense it is. But in another sense it is a phenomenal biological operation - that of the Redeeming Incarnation. - Pierre Teilhard Chardin
August 24, 2008
Trinitarian Congregational Church
Rev. Vicki Keene
RIDDLE ME A RIDDLE
Matthew 13. 31-33, 44-46
Let us pray. Dear God, you speak to us in parables, stories that challenge our ability to understand your will. May you guide our listening and our thinking this morning so we may grow in faith and trust in you. Amen.
I have always liked riddles, have you? Here’s one. . . A big Indian and a little Indian are sitting on a fence. The little Indian is the son of the big Indian but the big Indian is not the father of the little Indian. How is this possible? (The big Indian is the little Indian's mother!)
Riddles are sometimes called brain-teasers because they make us think. Even when a solution eludes us, we just cannot seem to let it go . . . we keep coming back to it. Why? Because we long for things in this world to make sense! If we think a solution exists, we work to discover it! And, when it comes to the parables of Jesus, we find ourselves in pretty much the same position of "not understanding" but “longing to solve.”
Jesus loved to teach using parables – those stories that contained a twist – or an unexpected conclusion - which surprised listeners with new revelation each time they heard them. Parables also could be challenging . . . because Jesus often would use common, everyday experiences to illustrate seemingly unrelated conclusions.
Of the 40 or so parables Jesus told, He only explained two . . . leaving us today, to call on the Holy Spirit to guide our discernment of the remaining ones, including those in today's Scripture. In our reading, Jesus tells us four parables . . . about the kingdom of heaven.
For Matthew, the coming of the kingdom of heaven was Jesus’ central message . . .referring to the coming kingdom 37 times! But how was God’s reign to be understood? What did the kingdom of heaven mean? Was it a place? How would it come about? Was it a movement? A political victory?
Each of today’s parables begins with the words, "The kingdom of heaven is like . . ." And, then we hear . . it is like . . . a mustard seed planted in a field that becomes the greatest of all shrubs. It is like yeast that transforms flour. It is like a treasure hidden in a field that we must have. It is like a merchant in search of fine pearls who sells everything to acquire the perfect pearl.
Now, if you spend anytime listening to young people these days, you may find yourself, like, subtly annoyed. Every statement seems punctuated with a repetitive, LIKE. She was, like, so totally, awful to him. That test was, like, so completely unfair. And even a yogurt commercial exclaims, “It is, like, smooth, and like, so totally crunchy!” It is almost as if the use of “like” builds in some wriggle room to express one’s self. Flexibility with flair - - when you are not quite sure what to say.
Yet, I do not think that Jesus was seeking flexibility. He was trying to capture theological truth! That which was difficult to understand, He was trying to make simple. So, let me share a few words about each of these parables and then, tie them all together.
To 1st century listeners, to compare the kingdom of heaven to a mustard plant was a very disturbing analogy. Why? Because the mustard plant was . . . . a weed! Farmers spent considerable effort ridding their fields of it, not planting it! They had no use for it. In fact, a mustard plant would take over their fields and squeeze out other plants. It was just plain undesirable.
People expected God's kingdom to be majestic - - grand - - and, powerful . . . not like a common plant . . . and certainly not like a weed. The kingdom of God was understood to be the key to freedom . . . promising deliverance from the ways of injustice and prejudice. So how could Jesus compare it . . . to a mustard plant?!
Jesus was well aware of how this comparison would be heard and actually had some fun with the story. Not only did He liken the kingdom of heaven to an ordinary plant, he did it with flair, claiming the mustard plant would grow into a mighty tree with nesting birds - an image that would evoke the imperial grand cedars of Lebanon used by the prophet, Ezekiel. The only problem was that from experience, everyone knew the mustard seed would grow at most to be a large bush that would struggle to support nests.
Is God going to do more than we understand or expect? The next time you are in the grocery store, stop by the seasonings and check out the mustard seed. It is extremely small! Jesus teaches us that from tiny, almost infinitesimal seeds, the kingdom of heaven will mysteriously grow - - and grow - - and grow, beyond our expectations! Jesus assures us that God’s kingdom on earth will experience a supernatural, extraordinary growth to become something grander than our wildest imagination! Even though human eyes may fail to perceive what is happening, God is at work. And, the same is true today.
I have often wondered how we would react if we heard this as the Parable of the Dandelion Seed – the kingdom of heaven . . . is like a dandelion seed . . .that is sown in a lawn and soon the lawn is no longer green but yellow - - and not just that one lawn, but all lawns - - as far as the eye could see. How would you feel? What would you do? Bring out the Scotts or Round-Up? Or could it all be according to God's plan? You know, I've never succeeded at eliminating dandelions - - and nothing can stop the growth of the kingdom of God.
It is humbling to consider that WE are not solely responsible for God’s kingdom here on earth. Even occurrences that make no sense can be of use to God. As Paul writes to the Romans, We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. GOD is planting seeds today that will beautify and define his kingdom here on earth . . .and they will grow! Through this first parable, Jesus offers us a message of hope and encouragement - - that what we see today - a mustard bush - is not what we will get tomorrow - a grand tree!
Likewise, the Parable of the Yeast reinforces this same message of the hidden and mysterious growth of the kingdom of heaven. Now, who has made bread? You need flour, a little salt, a touch of oil, water and yeast! Did you know that in Greek, yeast means “hidden?” And it is that little bit of yeast – those tiny particles - that really change the nature of the mixture, causing it to expand. Small beginnings . . . Big endings!
So, what is there not to understand about this parable? The twist is two-fold. First, the amount of flour Jesus cites is enormous! Three measures of flour would weigh about 50 pounds and would fill about TEN one - gallon containers. That's a lot of flour, enough to serve bread to about 150 people! This woman was either planning for a big party . . . or she was working for the kingdom bakery! And, not only is the amount of flour extraordinary, the yeast is portrayed as something positive – far from the common biblical understanding of “yeast” as referring to something evil or unclean!
Another reversal of expectations to jar our listening and open us up to the majesty of God ???
These two parables altered peoples' assumptions about how God worked. . .and clearly sent the message that God's ways are not our ways. We often pray for God to open our eyes and minds . . . and with good reason. We want God to be understandable and neatly packaged. However, this is not always the case and we NEED to be ready for God to speak to us in new ways. A weed and a contaminated agent as illustrations for the Kingdom of Heaven were shocking - - just about as shocking as a humble and perfect Savior dying on the cross.
Have you ever been surprised at how God works? Have you ever expected something here at church to turn out one way, only to have actual events take a different turn? Have you ever been moved or touched in an unexpected way . . . only to discover you could even have such feelings? God does work in mysterious ways . . . but rest assured, God works!
And what about the parables of the hidden treasure and the pearl? Both are so brief. Where are we to focus our attention? Is it all about the incredible value of the Kingdom of Heaven? Certainly, that is true! Like the seeker of the great pearl. . . are we to seek the kingdom? Yes, of course! But, in the parable of the hidden treasure, the treasure in the field was just found unexpectedly! Is the kingdom about being hidden and then discovered?
In these two parables, the emphasis is not so much on the kingdom itself - - but on our response to it! What is important is not so much the seeking or the finding but instead, the REACTION one has to discovering the blessings of the kingdom of heaven. The heart of these last two parables lies in the individual’s response - - which in both cases, was to sell everything, in order to receive the kingdom of heaven.
What God offers us is so precious and so desirable, that our response should be nothing less than our total devotion and obedience. As we sing in that old familiar hymn, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, it is so amazing , so divine, that it demands my soul - - my life - - my all!
Each of these four parables is mystifying in its own way - much like riddles. But, where might we end up. . . if we try to put them all together?
Can you think of anything that starts tiny and grows large, can be hidden for a time and then made known to all, is of such great value that it should be sought, is something we cannot live without, will be made known even if we do not seek it, that we are assured of its growth and dominion?
To discover one solution, let me suggest a riddle of my own. What is a four letter word that is the essence of God,is something we all long to receive, is in our nature to give away and makes the world go 'round?
Now, if Jesus had just come out and said the kingdom of heaven is all about love, I wonder if we would be gathered here today. As I have mentioned over the past couple of weeks, wrestling with God - asking the hard questions in prayer - yields unexpected benefits - new wisdom - that draw us closer to God.
Understanding God's Word - - understanding parables - - is not a human accomplishment but a gift from God. Although riddles are fun to figure out. . . we are to listen to the parables of Jesus with an ear toward a revelation from God - - and then, in response, ALTER our way of living.
There were many who saw and heard Jesus but whose behavior betrayed the fact that they really did not understand. They heard parables like just another story and keep their message at a distance. And what about us? Do our lives - our priorities - reflect the kingdom of heaven?
Many cars today have a Christian bumper sticker of a fish for the world to see. But I have always wondered if there was a sticker be on the dashboard as well – just as a reminder?
Life with God would be so much easier if there were a visible sign, like dandelions, that would assure us that we are on the right track . . . but that is not the case. What we have instead is the ever-present power of the Holy Spirit, a church covenanted in Christ, and the faithfulness of God to guide us and teach us in all God's ways. All in all – quite sufficient!
God's kingdom is unstoppable. And, even when we do not perceive any progress – or the world appears to be in utter shambles, have faith in the knowledge that God is at work. As Jesus said, “the kingdom of heaven is drawing near.” May we witness it and may we be a part of it!
Let us close by joining our voices together in praying for God’s kingdom on earth with the words of the prayer that Jesus taught us. Our Father . . . Amen and Amen.
Trinitarian Congregational Church | 72 Elm Street, North Andover, MA | Tel. 1-978-686-4445 | Office Hours: 9-Noon