The Kindom of Heaven Is Like: A Parable for Today

 

Many years ago, when I worked at Lutheran Camp Edgewood, I found a poem that really spoke to me. The camp had old rolls of wallpaper for crafts. I took a swatch and wrote the poem on the fancy pearlized and textured wallpaper. Later saving it in a book with collected and written poems. At the time, although I couldn’t explain the poem to anyone else, it felt like an expression of a teenagers world view.

 

The first funeral in my first parish was that of a woman in her early 60s. This beautiful woman had had a hard life with unfair circumstances. This included having a debilitating body wasting illness, that placed her in a nursing home and confined to bed. She was the nicest person, with a warm smile, generous in conversation and care for those who visited and helped her. Meeting her you would not know the depth of hardship she had endured and continued to endure.

In her funeral sermon I shared the poem that I had collected and saved.

The poem written by Canadian poet Raymond Souster is this:

I wanted to smash, something, anything, against their dull stupid faces,

Then you reached down with a certain smile, put a flower in my hand.

The woman could have been the first line of the poem, and yet she was everything of the second line.

Hardship, unfairness, sickness – all the emotions, the physical energy, the impossibility of changing outcomes-

who would not become angry, hostile, scream at the pain, blame God, loss hope, or give up?

Not this kind woman. This beautiful woman, always reached out with a certain smile, coveted prayer, appreciated relationships, shared love, encouraged a new pastor… she put metaphorical flowers in my hand, and in the hands of others.

She represented for me what Jesus is trying to get across in the Gospel. She defined and was the kingdom of God in her actions. Jesus is trying to articulate the kingdom of God.

 

The older I get, the more I witness, this short poem takes on a deeper meaning.

 

It would be easy, understandable, for someone to want to smash something…

How a smoke-filled yellow sky or smoke induced blood red sun feels like being in a dystopian novel

How climate crisis has made 40C a new norm for places around the global

How hatred and greed is escalating the procurement of weapons and elite forces, only to destroy other human beings

How stories of injustice continue to multiply, while arrogant perpetrators and societies aware still double down on doing egregious harm

How someone could once again aim to kill the most beautiful tree in the Public Gardens

…smash something … there are days when, if I am honest, I most certainly want to smash something anything against their dull stupid faces.

 

The older I get, the more I witness, the more Jesus’ words take on a deeper meaning.

The kingdom of heaven is like…

Jesus is filling the ears and the imaginations of his listeners, in doing so he is laying flowers in hands.

Remember Jesus is speaking to an occupied people, a people resented by Roman rulers, who experience violence - torture – crucifixion as common place. Society operates with slavery, widespread poverty, and out-of-touch religious leaders who put rules before kindred.

 

The older I get, the more I witness, the more I understand that the ultimate deeper meaning is Jesus’ action.

The kingdom of heaven is Jesus dying on the cross, crucified.

I imagine the disciples wanting to smash something, anything, against the dull stupid faces of the Roman Empire, regional governors, the religious authorities that incited the crowds. At the foot of the cross, on the killing hill --- I can feel the eeriness of the dystopian inky sky. I can hear the jeering crowds, the crying followers. I am aware of military might; of cringing at the crass treatment, of being silenced by the force of Empire. I am sickened by the glorification of violence, disheartened by the political maneuvering, shocked at the insignificance given to human life, and the inhumanity and terror of the whole scene.

And then, you -Jesus- reached down with a certain smile and put a flower in -their hand – the world’s hand.

Put a flower in my hand; – Jesus put the kingdom of God in the mayhem- grace, front and centre for everyone with ears to hear, eyes to see, and hearts to receive.

The kingdom of God has drawn near and is present as Jesus acknowledges the man dying beside him and promises him life. Jesus puts a flower in the hand, forgiving those who were killing him. Jesus gives a flower with the care he has for his mother. Jesus brings the kingdom by remaining present – incarnate- when he could have left; got off the cross immediately. Jesus is the kingdom by refusing that kind of  hero glory and instead choosing to be present in hurt, suffering, and death. …and in this, offers a flower, bearing witness to the possibility of the redemption of all that is broken.

 

All of Jesus’ kindom parables in this passage are short, one sentence. The kindom captured quickly in one deep image. One flower. Across the parables there are themes:

The kindom expands – grows like plants, rises like yeast. The kingdom parables are focused on the common good and filled with abundance and diversity. This kingdom of abundance and diversity, values life and wholeness, and blooms into beauty and joy.

 

In our world and in our lives, smashing something, anything, is an understandable human response to all the mayhem  -  but the past weeks Jesus has told parables about planting seeds, growing plants, harvesting – today Jesus speaks about kingdom. Listeners are planted with seeds. Jesus is tending those words and now encouraging blooming into kingdom living, to plant new crops of seeds, to put flowers in the hands of others. Growing the kingdom of God one flower at a time. Being a present and tangible brightly coloured gift  - that warms the heart and offers grace in the world’s suffering, pain, and mayhem.

Let us go and live God’s kingdom – and with a certain smile, put a flower in another’s hand.

 

Waves of Grace and Happiness

That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. (Matt. 13: 1-2)

 

When I read the gospel for this morning, I remained in the first sentence. Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. For those of us who live on the ocean, or have lived on a sea or a lake, we understand this with our whole selves: the smell of the air off the water, the sound of the surf, the texture of the beach, the awe filled experience of the horizon and water becoming one far beyond our ability to reach.

Jesus was drawn out of the house to sit by the water. Perhaps Jesus went out of the house to escape the household routines and the disciples going about daily actions of life. Jesus went out for some peace and quiet, to broaden his scope, to calm his nerves, to commune with nature – maybe to get out of doing the dishes. Or to separate from certain insistent disciples who enjoyed nothing more than to talk and debate, ask questions and pontificate. Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea.

 

Pastoral ministry this week placed me beside the sea. On Saturday for a wedding with the Northwest Arm as the backdrop, where the sermon spoke of beauty – beauty of creation, beauty of gathered community, beauty of love. On Sunday, we have gathered around the waters of baptism. As we celebrate the sacrament of baptism we sit beside the sea. Jesus sitting by the sea is a perfect reading for Minoyia’s baptism. Minoyia’s name means happiness. Is this not our experience of sitting by the sea? Connecting, communing with water; sitting beside the water we are filled with happiness.

Jesus was due for some happiness. If you recall from last week, Jesus has been struggling with rejection from ‘this generation’ and frustrated by the lack of action and unwillingness of people to receive God’s kindom. In this text we notice a growing ‘pro’ Jesus audience who comes to sit beside the sea with Jesus.

 

It is important to note that the sea is the backdrop of today’s story. The crowd comes and stands on the beach, as Jesus gets into a boat and moves out on the water. Jesus will be living water that will come back to shore in the form of parables; stories.  For chapter 13 Matthew has gathered, depending on how you count, 7 or 8 parables. Matthew has linked parables gathered from Mark’s gospel with others gleaned from wider sources.

The parables are about God’s kindom, told with the backdrop of the sea. The environ is as important as the words because the sea affects how the words are heard. The presence of waves, subconsciously wet the imagination, lulling the spirit to float in the waves of the coming of God’s reign. There is an experiential component to living word pushing to shore in stories of God’s mercy and justice, where it ebbs back to sea, only to return and lap at listener’s feet. This cycle of kindom coming is continual, perpetual. The kindom has always been, God’s action has always been. It is in the present washing over us and is a hope of complete wholeness in the future.

 

I recently heard an interview of a couple who moved to the Wales countryside for a fresh start. Their property sat above the Welsh coastline, with a path that led to beach. The husband had retired out of military service. Suffering from PTSD he needed to simplify life and slow down. When he would wake from night terrors, usually around 3am, he would walk down to the beach. On the beach there was an approximately 200 lb rock. One night he wondered if he could move it. He pushed it and it moved a little. Night after night he pushed the rock a little bit. In the interview he described how the moving of the rock, made him feel that he was moving too, one step at a time. Healing a little bit was being visualized as the rock moved across the beach. One day as his wife noticed that the rock had shifted down the beach said, “Why don’t you sit on the rock instead?”

After that he started to sit on the rock, and that is when he started to meditate. The man went out of the house and sat beside the sea.

The man now runs a retreat and workshops for other veterans suffering with PTSD.

 

Backdrop is important. The physical movement of the rock changed the man’s perception of how he was feeling. He witnessed the rock in a new place. Sitting beside the sea, the man found himself. Connected with a power greater than himself and a mystery deeper than himself, his spirit stirred and was moved to return justice and mercy to fellow veterans. The ebb and flow of the waves had healing power.

 

Ocean – sea -  the waters of baptism convey both power and the mystery of kindom. Ocean – sea – the waters of baptism are a vast expanse with great depth, containing the visible and invisible, the known and unknown.

 

Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea.

Did the feeling of rejection wash away, as a sense of belonging rushed in to take its place?

Did anger and disappointment ease, as waves of calm and peace rolled in?

Was Jesus reminded that throughout human history manifestations of God were embraced, only to slip away? Did the waves whisper – remember - the mountain tops and the valleys. The deserts and life-flowing streams. Chaos and creation. Bondage and freedom. Faith and doubt. Understanding and a lack thereof. The reciprocity of ministry. The give and take of relationship.

Did the power of the waves speak to Jesus of the swelling of God’s grace that washes across the sand, continually, lavishly, abundantly. Always flowing, always offered, always present.

 

Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. How do we change when we take the time to go and sit by the sea?

 

Dr. Douglas Hare ended his commentary on Matthew 13 this way: In Jesus’ ministry, God is present and active. The disciples have witnessed the evidence. Instead of demanding certainty as did the Pharisees and Sadducees, the disciples must remember and let the memory of God’s goodness overrule the anxieties of daily life. (Interpretation Series, pg 185)

Despite whatever is going on, in the world, in our communities, in our lives, in ourselves – God’s kindom continues to come wave after wave. And it is good.

 

As we sit by the waters of baptism –

Be filled with Minoyia – happiness.

Here in water is power and mystery, death and life, belonging and peace.

Here is grace beyond grace.

 

Come sit with Jesus by the sea.

Amen.

 

Kindom Talk: Viewer Discretion Is Advised

 

Before television shows there is often a disclaimer, something like:

Due to course language, violence, and nudity, this program may not be suitable for all viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.

This morning’s sermon comes with a disclaimer.

You will not like what you hear.

 

Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Don’t get excited! These verses are not the “ahh,” the sigh of relief and comfort from the very hearing of these words. The words are not directed at you, or for you, as an individual. They have nothing to do with the removal of weariness or comfort from everyday life situations and circumstances.

These words are part of a holy rant by Jesus. With fiery passion and course language everyone has come under scrutiny and is being lambasted. Viewer – hearer - discretion is advised.

 

We enter the show at verse 16 of Matthew chapter 11. John the Baptist has recently sent his disciples to Jesus to ask if Jesus is the Messiah, the one who is to come, or should they wait for another? To the crowds Jesus praised John the Baptist and the prophetic God-given work John performed.

 

Viewer- hearer- discretion is advised. Jesus uses course language “this generation.” Jesus’ words are not flattering. Jesus is beyond annoyed. God has sent two completely different messengers to the same area, at the same time, because God knows people hear and process things differently.

So, God sends John – the fiery prophet, living on locusts and wild honey, working in the desert, wearing camel hair, Law abiding and offering a baptism of repentance. The people write John off for his austere living and his disregard for societal norms.

God sends Jesus – a respectable teacher who knows the Law and mercifully applies it, a miracle worker who banquets with tax collectors and sinners. The people write Jesus off for liberal interpretation and compassionate application.

The people have been given choice, one message, two very different approaches, both provided by God. And yet people determine that both John and Jesus can be ignored and dismissed as irrelevant.

Kindom talk – living into a full covenant – as in a relationship with God, creation, and each other – is dismissed as irrelevant. It seems too big an ideal – impossible- for everyday life. It takes too much time or energy. It takes one away from human and worldly pursuits of power, greed, and success.

 

Jesus, ever the storyteller, channels his disappointment into a “parable of the children.”

I have to admit, that this text as a parable was a new-to-me insight, gathered from Douglas Hare’s thoughts in the Interpretation Commentary: Matthew.

The parable has a group of children wanting to play. There is a group, likely the girls, who want to play funeral. This is comfortable for them because the cultural practice of the day was to hire professional mourners – a woman’s profession– for funerals. The other group, likely the boys, want to play wedding. Traditionally men were responsible for the round dance that was part of a wedding celebration. The children can’t figure out which to play, so end up playing nothing. The children are bored. They pick on each other and either succumb to laziness or aimlessly get up to no good. Funeral or wedding. Mourning or joy.

 

God invites the people to experience the drawing near of God’s kindom -

From John the Baptist via stern warning of coming judgement, and through Jesus with a joyful announcement of the arrival of kindom. Neither side or approach is wrong. God provided both because God knows people hear and process things differently. Jesus is at wits end because “this generation” has not accepted or committed to either. The people remain idle – as if the kindom doesn’t exist, as if God’s restorative and covenantal work is not important or relevant.

 

Viewer  - hearer- discretion is advised –

Jesus is feeling alone. The learned, the Pharisees and Sadducees, the religious, the Law keepers, the Synagogue attendees, the people of faith, have chosen to remain uninvolved and unchanged to God’s kindom coming near. All have failed to take either of God’s end-time, kindom-preacher-messengers, seriously.

Jesus, a tirelessly working teacher-preacher-healer, wants to see his message bearing fruit and making a difference in peoples’ relationships and the life of the whole community. Jesus just wants the people to -

Get at it! Embrace kindom living, either because you take judgement seriously, so you act accordingly, or you take the joyful arrival of kindom seriously so live accordingly. However you go about it – make a choice and start playing together. Both playing and working with kindom goals.

 

Come to me, all you who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Octavia Raheem, a rest coach and author, wrote, “For so long, I’ve relied solely on the trinity of hard work, grit, and relentlessness. This holy trinity has served me well and, at the same time, left me weary and tired.”

When I read this, I thought about what the trinities are that make us weary and tired? In the same thought, I wonder what keeps us from hearing the Holy Trinity and receiving the joyful announcement of the arrival of God’s kindom (or if you prefer the stern warning of coming judgement). For me these were not individual ponderings but rather, thoughts of the whole church. What are the heavy burdens we carry as a church? Our very human childishness that hinders us from embracing God’s preacher-messengers and making a choice to not sit on the sidelines bored and lazy or getting into trouble – but deciding to play and live out God’s kindom? I wonder how we are hindered by burdens of fear, self-service, expectations, legacy, worry, doubt, scarcity, unbelief, survival, property, comfort, status quo…

 

Viewer  - hearer- discretion is advised.

This text is not about rest, as in no work. It is rest from the human trinity of power, greed, and success. It is about kindom work. It is about work that takes commitment, dedication, and faithfulness. It requires a sense of play and relationship. And Jesus promises it will be ‘easy.’

The Greek word that has been translated as ‘easy’ has a root meaning of ‘kind.’ Yokes used on animals like oxen, can be shaped specifically for an animal to cause the least amount of chaffing. Jesus’ yoke will be kind – enabling us to more easily carry the load. There is an expectation that we carry a load. Yokes are used to connect two oxen to help them work together as a team - to pull the plow through the fields, move heavy carts, and do work impossible, too big to do alone.

At the end of the rant Jesus is calling on people to carry the load he is carrying all by himself!

Jesus is convincing them, imploring them, inviting them – and us- to yoke up with him and be a team.

Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest.

Set aside your worldly burdens and share Jesus’ load and with kindom purpose play as a team.