Wheat and tares sown together - a lesson on judging

Scripture:Genesis 28:10-19a and Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24  • Wisdom of Solomon 12:13, 16-19 or Isaiah 44:6-8 and Psalm 86:11-17  • Romans 8:12-25  • Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

This week we study Jesus' second parable of sowing seeds. Again the sower broadcasts the good seed, and this time the wheat and weeds grow up together. Should we weed the field so the good plants can grow? They become entangled. Is this about judging others? What can we learn about judging others? Is this about the good and bad in all of us? 

Consider Christopher Burkett's "Tangled Humanity," and reflect on Sister Kym Harris'  "This Sunday's Exposition."

Brothers and sisters,  “Life is short, so be quick to love and make haste to be kind

to gladden the hearts of those who go the journey with us." ~Henri Frédéric Amiel

Sowing good seed

Scripture: Genesis 25:19-34 and Psalm 119:105-112  • Isaiah 55:10-13 and Psalm 65:(1-8), 9-13  • Romans 8:1-11  • Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23

Jesus gives us one of his parables of the sower in this week's gospel reading. Here, it seems, is a wild, perhaps reckless sower. Some seeds fall on rocks and hard ground. Some among thorns. And others on good soil. Several years ago I learned an important life lesson from a now retired Episcopal priest, Fr. Rodge Wood. He taught me something like this: When you make a gift, it is no longer yours to worry about how it will be used. Otherwise, in seeking to control the consequences, you have taken it back. Such is forgiveness. Be set free by giving your gift, and yourself. I texted him about this this week, and he told me that I taught him how to live an abundant life. This week's lesson is about "reckless" giving without worry or control, but trusting that every good gift comes from God, whose love is abundant, and will see us through every second of our lives together. And we can teach, and learn from each other - if only we care and try, which is what Jesus calls us to do.

Consider The Rev. Joseph Evans' "The Sower's Lesson," and "Life and Death
: God's Care Package is Bursting, " by Enuma Okoro, published in Sojourners.

Taking on Jesus' Yoke

Scripture: Genesis 24:34-38, 42-49, 58-67 and Psalm 45:10-17 or Song of Solomon 2:8-13  •  Zechariah 9:9-12 and Psalm 145:8-14  • Romans 7:15-25a  • Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

After a few weeks considering the costs of discipleship, Jesus is moved with compassion for us, and offers himself as a respite for all who are heavy burdened and weary. He, of gentle humility, welcomes us, receives us and offers a lightness, a rest. What does Jesus mean when he tells us "Come to me, all you that 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."
See The Rev. Joshua Bowron, "Taking on Jesus' Yoke."

What about failure, acceptance, coping. Consider Daniel P. Clendenin's "'I Don't Know What I'm Doing," Failure Tolerant Christians.

Hospitality and a cup of cold water - what does God require of us?

Scripture: Genesis 22:1-14 and Psalm 13  • Jeremiah 28:5-9 and Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18  • Romans 6:12-23  • Matthew 10:40-42

 In this Sunday's readings we have the amazing story of God telling Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac. Are we, like Abraham, being tested?  Consider Dan Clendenin's "A Terrifying Text: Abraham and Isaac on Mt. Moriah," and, along with Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard, put yourself in Abraham's shoes. Compare this with last Sunday's gospel where Jesus says that whoever loves his son or daughter more than me, or who does not take up their cross and follow me, is not worthy of me.  What does God ask of us?

Enjoy the story of wild haired college student John, who squats in the isle of a church service in  Christopher Burkett's "The Smallest of Good Deeds." 

What does God want us to do? Read Fr. Ric Morley's "sit up straighter..." Whoever welcomes you, welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the One who sent me.

God's Peace in the Midst of Fear and Chaos

Scripture: Genesis 21:8-21 and Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17  • Jeremiah 20:7-13 and Psalm 69:7-10, (11-15), 16-18  • Romans 6:1b-11  • Matthew 10:24-39

"His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches over me." Words from a favorite hymn. In this week's scripture, from Hagar's despair over her son, Ishmael, cast out in the desert and death of her son looming, to Jeremiah's lament, to Jesus telling the disciples that God cares for them as he sends them out to take his message of love and forgiveness to a hostile world, we learn that God sees, hears, is present, and provides. God knows when every sparrow falls, and every hair on our heads is counted, Jesus tells us. 

And what about that hostile world and our greatest fears? How is God with us? What does God's peace mean for us? Read Debie Thomas' essay, "What to Fear."

In "Sent," The Rev. Joslyn Ogden Shaefer says Jesus sends out his disciples to interrupt the world-as-they (we)-know it with new possibilities for healing, wholeness, truth-telling, and repaired relationships.

There will be storms and battles, but, thanks be to God, through Christ, there will be victory, even victory over death. Read "Ishmael: God Hears and Sees," by Dan Clendenin and  "Facing battles with the promise of victory," by The Rev. Canon Frank S. Logue.

Dancing in divine relationship - Trinity Sunday

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-2:4a and Psalm 8  • 2 Corinthians 13:11-13  • Matthew 28:16-20

This is Trinity Sunday. In "A glowing oven full of love," The Rev. Dr. Joseph Pagano discusses the social nature of God, and "relationship," within the Godhead, with God and us, and the relationships we have with each other. Part of our scripture is one of two creation stories from Genesis which says that we are created in the image and likeness of God. And God saw what he had created, and it was good. This is cause for celebration in relationships. Read the Genesis account and Psalm 8. 

Katrina K. Whitley, in The Mystery of the Trinity God , discusses the relationship of the Triune God in Richard Rohr's book, The Divine Dance: The Trinity and Your Transformation with references to Dorothy L. Sayer's book, The Mind of the Maker.  She discusses being created in the image of God, and the creative spirit with which God endowed us, comparing the creative process of Idea, Energy, and Power to God, the Word made flesh - the Son, and the Holy Spirit - the breath of God, the  παράκλητος  (paracletos) -  "one who consoles or comforts, one who encourages or uplifts; hence refreshes, and/or one who intercedes on our behalf as an advocate in court." Or from the Greek root words which mean "to make a call close- beside us, and advocate." Whitley reminds us that it was not enough that we were given the Word. We are to take the living Word to the ends of the earth. Read the passage from Matthew.  

 The power of God is with us in the creative dance of, and with, the divine. Read the Genesis account.

Pentecost - the Church's amazing birthday party

Scripture: Acts 2:1-21 or Numbers 11:24-30  • Psalm 104:24-34, 35b  • 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 or Acts 2:1-21  • John 20:19-23 or John 7:37-39

  This week is the church's birthday - Pentecost. We read in Acts of the Holy Spirit descending on the disciples with a sound like a violent wind, and divided flaming tongues dancing over their heads. Top that Mick Jagger! And then the most amazing thing, those rustic Galileans spoke in languages all flesh, for all time, could understand. 

  In her Reflection on the gospel of John's account of Jesus giving us peace through the Holy Spirit , Sister Kym Harris tells us that  it is not the kind of peace that turns us off, but like electricity, it turn us on to a power enabling us to do far more than we can ever do ourselves, to live lives of abundance, free from compulsions, selfishness, and whatever holds us back from advancing God's kingdom of love. In her Exposition, she speaks of the power given to us by the Holy Spirit to deal with sin - the power to forgive, not only others, but our selves, so we can get up off the mat, renewed to serve up the Good News of Christ's love and abundance of life.

  In "Things like that don't happen anymore, right?," The Rev. Marshall Jolly asks "Could a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit happen? What do you think? What would it look, sound, feel and be like?