Matthew 13:33-5 - And another parable he put before them, "The kingdom of heaven can be compared to yeast which she added to three measures of flour and the whole loaf was leavened." All these things Jesus spoke to them in parables to the crowd. Indeed, he said nothing that was not a parable. This was to fulfill the word of the prophet, "I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world."
So, about the flour; three measures of flour is enough for a lot of bread. The idea here is abundance. Together, the parables are of health, shelter, and abundance of good things in the kingdom of heaven. They show that the little things we do to promote these things on earth result in little slices of heaven here and now. I have often wondered whether this is how God chooses to bring heaven down to earth - the real meaning hidden in the parables is that following God brings heaven to earth until finally, it actually is heaven. Possibly that is blasphemous.
Parables also serve to keep the hidden, hidden. It must be thought about through our hearts rather than our heads. Sacred things cannot be explained like math. In Spiritual Math, 1+1 might equal 100, because of God's abundance. The Trinity itself is an example of something that we cannot completely understand with our intellect alone. Even with our heart the Trinity may be elusive for most. Yet, parables and sayings and symbols give us ways to talk about what we cannot see with our physical eyes and feel with our physical bodies. They give us another way in.
B
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Friday, February 26, 2016
Mustard Seed
Matthew 13:31-32 - And he told them another parable saying, "The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a mustard seed. It is the smallest of all seeds and yet when it is grown it is the largest of bushes. The greatest of trees; so tall that even birds make nests in its branches."
The kingdom of hell can be compared to the same thing. What we do has implications much further than we can imagine. When we treat others with respect, not only do we usually get respect in return, yet that person may also go on to treat others with respect. And so on. Heaven!
Yet, when we treat others poorly, they may also treat others poorly. In a downward instead of upward spiral. Hell.
This idea assumes that heaven is not just somewhere floating outside of us, but rather here on earth where we are. At least part of it! And our actions can bring about heaven or hell for others as well as ourselves. Heaven being dignity, respect, and love for all. And when that happens, everyone will have enough to eat and more, black or brown people will no longer be tormented and/or killed by cops. All lives will TRULY matter. Until then, let's focus on those that don't seem to matter ...
B
The kingdom of hell can be compared to the same thing. What we do has implications much further than we can imagine. When we treat others with respect, not only do we usually get respect in return, yet that person may also go on to treat others with respect. And so on. Heaven!
Yet, when we treat others poorly, they may also treat others poorly. In a downward instead of upward spiral. Hell.
This idea assumes that heaven is not just somewhere floating outside of us, but rather here on earth where we are. At least part of it! And our actions can bring about heaven or hell for others as well as ourselves. Heaven being dignity, respect, and love for all. And when that happens, everyone will have enough to eat and more, black or brown people will no longer be tormented and/or killed by cops. All lives will TRULY matter. Until then, let's focus on those that don't seem to matter ...
B
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Burning weeds
Matthew 13:28b-30 - "Do you want us to pull them?" He said to them, "No for in gathering the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with it. Let them grow until they are ready to harvest. At harvest time I will tell the reapers to gather up the weeds first and bind them into bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn."
A vision of the kingdom of heaven that contains both good and evil. Later in this same chapter Jesus explains the parable - Son of God is the man, disciples are the servants, the good wheat are those who hear God, the bad wheat are the evil ones of the world. It is a metaphor for the days of judgment. Yet, it is also a description of the world as it is. It can even be a description of each individual as they are. We have good and bad qualities. As children, we need love much, much more than we need those bad qualities routed.
Our job, as I see it, is to accept the weeds - see them, note them, recognize them - and work to gather them into bundles. Work to make them ineffective. Work for opportunities for good. Not sure exactly how to do that, yet there it is.
B
A vision of the kingdom of heaven that contains both good and evil. Later in this same chapter Jesus explains the parable - Son of God is the man, disciples are the servants, the good wheat are those who hear God, the bad wheat are the evil ones of the world. It is a metaphor for the days of judgment. Yet, it is also a description of the world as it is. It can even be a description of each individual as they are. We have good and bad qualities. As children, we need love much, much more than we need those bad qualities routed.
Our job, as I see it, is to accept the weeds - see them, note them, recognize them - and work to gather them into bundles. Work to make them ineffective. Work for opportunities for good. Not sure exactly how to do that, yet there it is.
B
Friday, February 19, 2016
Kingdom of Heaven
Matthew 13:26-28a - So when the plants came up and bore grain, the weeds came up also. And the servants of the household came and said to him, "Sir, did you know sow good seed in your field; how then does it have weeds?" And he answered them, "An enemy has done this."
Okay. In thinking about this I am wondering about weeds. Aren't they natural? Don't they grow no matter how good your seed is? Or is it that there are so many and they are entwined? In any case, I should think the weeds would just be there anyway - no matter how good the seed. And maybe this is the point. God saw all that he created and called it good. Yet we, as part of creation are no longer good. The ground has been cursed for us.
Our seeds are good yet we have weeds. God doesn't excise them immediately. He allows the good in us to grow along with the bad until we ourselves can see the bad - the impulses to hurt others, to be selfish, to gossip, to jealousy, to violence. Maybe we are the enemy by eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Yet God gives us chances to grow, individually and corporately. We mess it up individually and corporately. Yet God still loves us -- her love continues to rain down in hopes that we will repent and turn and let God heal us.
B
Okay. In thinking about this I am wondering about weeds. Aren't they natural? Don't they grow no matter how good your seed is? Or is it that there are so many and they are entwined? In any case, I should think the weeds would just be there anyway - no matter how good the seed. And maybe this is the point. God saw all that he created and called it good. Yet we, as part of creation are no longer good. The ground has been cursed for us.
Our seeds are good yet we have weeds. God doesn't excise them immediately. He allows the good in us to grow along with the bad until we ourselves can see the bad - the impulses to hurt others, to be selfish, to gossip, to jealousy, to violence. Maybe we are the enemy by eating the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Yet God gives us chances to grow, individually and corporately. We mess it up individually and corporately. Yet God still loves us -- her love continues to rain down in hopes that we will repent and turn and let God heal us.
B
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Heaven?
Matthew 13:24-25 - And he put another parable before them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven can be compared to a man who sows his seed. But while he slept, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and left."
Well, so far, not looking to much like heaven. In fact, it's a good description of human brokenness. We are envious and jealous of others. So much so that sometimes we will actively try to harm others. I cannot think of a time when I actively did something like this. My harm comes from passivity - from not doing the thing I should or could do for others.
Of course, we must also remember that the phrase "kingdom of heaven" can refer to God. So, perhaps the God figure has not shown up in the parable as yet. More will be revealed.
Also, I wonder about the word "compare" in this context. Is it compare favorably or unfavorably? According to BibleWorks it has the sense of liken - may be likened to - so, it will be interesting to see where this likeness shows up.
B
Well, so far, not looking to much like heaven. In fact, it's a good description of human brokenness. We are envious and jealous of others. So much so that sometimes we will actively try to harm others. I cannot think of a time when I actively did something like this. My harm comes from passivity - from not doing the thing I should or could do for others.
Of course, we must also remember that the phrase "kingdom of heaven" can refer to God. So, perhaps the God figure has not shown up in the parable as yet. More will be revealed.
Also, I wonder about the word "compare" in this context. Is it compare favorably or unfavorably? According to BibleWorks it has the sense of liken - may be likened to - so, it will be interesting to see where this likeness shows up.
B
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Good soil
Matthew 13:23 - As for the seed sown in good soil, this is the person who hears the word and understands it; that person indeed bears fruit, sometimes a hundredfold, or sixty, or thirty.
The goal. We all get there sometimes. It feels good to have the Spirit within working in us when we minister or help others. And if the goal is to increase our understanding, how do we do that? Prayer, listening, reading, being open to transformation - both personal and corporate, meditation, welcoming others even when we do not feel like it.
It is the goal and although we have moments, we have more moments of being rocky, hard, or thorny. Recognizing this, we realize we need God's grace.
B
The goal. We all get there sometimes. It feels good to have the Spirit within working in us when we minister or help others. And if the goal is to increase our understanding, how do we do that? Prayer, listening, reading, being open to transformation - both personal and corporate, meditation, welcoming others even when we do not feel like it.
It is the goal and although we have moments, we have more moments of being rocky, hard, or thorny. Recognizing this, we realize we need God's grace.
B
Monday, February 15, 2016
Thorns!
Matthew 13:22 - As for what was sown among thorns, this is the person who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the desire for riches chokes the seed and it becomes unfruitful.
We all have worries, right? Taxes, investments, where to find our next meal, job pressures, family pressures, unemployment, violence in our homes and our streets, insecurity for all but the most powerful. These choke our hearing of the word. It is as if the din of these thoughts drowns out the still small voice of God. It has always been this way, no matter how much we'd like to think otherwise.
How to reconnect when our hearts grow thorns? Withdraw from the noise and pressure. Find something that soothes your soul. Meditate, draw, color, write. As long as it brings you back to your center, to God rather than deeper into your despair and worries. Lent is the perfect time to think about how we use our brain energy! It is the time in the church year during which we ask ourselves where we need to turn in order to face Christ again. What are we following instead? How does that affect our lives, our relationships, our well-being? What is choking our understanding today?
B
We all have worries, right? Taxes, investments, where to find our next meal, job pressures, family pressures, unemployment, violence in our homes and our streets, insecurity for all but the most powerful. These choke our hearing of the word. It is as if the din of these thoughts drowns out the still small voice of God. It has always been this way, no matter how much we'd like to think otherwise.
How to reconnect when our hearts grow thorns? Withdraw from the noise and pressure. Find something that soothes your soul. Meditate, draw, color, write. As long as it brings you back to your center, to God rather than deeper into your despair and worries. Lent is the perfect time to think about how we use our brain energy! It is the time in the church year during which we ask ourselves where we need to turn in order to face Christ again. What are we following instead? How does that affect our lives, our relationships, our well-being? What is choking our understanding today?
B
Sunday, February 14, 2016
Rocky ground
Matthew 13:20-21 - As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the hearer who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet they have no root in themselves and when tribulation or persecution come, the word immediately falls away.
I have "rocky ground days" all the time. I'll read a passage in the morning - love it - and then never think of it again all day whether or not tribulation and persecution show up. To prevent this I sometimes spend more time than usual and stop at random times during the day to think about it. That's my way of growing deeper roots ...
B
I have "rocky ground days" all the time. I'll read a passage in the morning - love it - and then never think of it again all day whether or not tribulation and persecution show up. To prevent this I sometimes spend more time than usual and stop at random times during the day to think about it. That's my way of growing deeper roots ...
B
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Seeds on the path
Matthew 13:18-19 - Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and doesn't understand it, the evil one comes and snatches it away. This is the seed sown on the path.
Jesus is giving the interpretation of the ways people respond to good news. In this case the good news of God's love - remember the seeds are flung willy-nilly. Many of us respond this way, even after we become Christians. Hearing the word of God might mean we will have to change our lives and change is not generally welcomed. We harden our own hearts just like the path has been hardened.
However, our failure to understand is not always intentional. Sometimes, the word is too high for us - too far away from our experience to make a connection to it. This is where the work of the recipient comes in. When this is the case, we need to spend time with the word - and the Word - to decipher what was meant originally and what can it mean for our lives now. We may even have to ask others, or go to commentaries or learn about life in Ancient Israel. God wants us to struggle with her word. She wants to engage us in this way. We become closer to her and our lives reflect that relationship. So, it is important to understand that when we do not understand the word, it does not mean we are hardening our hearts or refusing to change. It can mean those things. Yet we cannot expect to understand it all in our lifetime for we see through a mirror darkly.
For now, it is good to think about those passages we have a hard time with for whatever reason. Look at them. Memorize them. Let them into your being. They will reveal themselves when we give them the space and time to do so. The struggle will enrich our lives, our relationships, and our spirits.
B
Jesus is giving the interpretation of the ways people respond to good news. In this case the good news of God's love - remember the seeds are flung willy-nilly. Many of us respond this way, even after we become Christians. Hearing the word of God might mean we will have to change our lives and change is not generally welcomed. We harden our own hearts just like the path has been hardened.
However, our failure to understand is not always intentional. Sometimes, the word is too high for us - too far away from our experience to make a connection to it. This is where the work of the recipient comes in. When this is the case, we need to spend time with the word - and the Word - to decipher what was meant originally and what can it mean for our lives now. We may even have to ask others, or go to commentaries or learn about life in Ancient Israel. God wants us to struggle with her word. She wants to engage us in this way. We become closer to her and our lives reflect that relationship. So, it is important to understand that when we do not understand the word, it does not mean we are hardening our hearts or refusing to change. It can mean those things. Yet we cannot expect to understand it all in our lifetime for we see through a mirror darkly.
For now, it is good to think about those passages we have a hard time with for whatever reason. Look at them. Memorize them. Let them into your being. They will reveal themselves when we give them the space and time to do so. The struggle will enrich our lives, our relationships, and our spirits.
B
Friday, February 12, 2016
Blessed
Matthew 13:16 - For truly I tell you many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see and they did not see and they longed to hear what you hear and they did not.
Counting our blessings - day two.
Counting our blessings - day two.
Awake
Matthew 13:16 - But blessed are your eyes, for they see and your ears, for they hear.
Blessed are our eyes when we are able to see God's Spirit working in the world. Blessed are our ears when we hear the words we need. Blessed eve are our hearts when they rejoice with God and God's people. We truly are blessed as were the disciples. They saw, and heard and felt something in Jesus' words that was important to them. Important enough to abandon their homes and families and work to roam the countryside doing God's work. Blessed are we when we choose to work with the Holy SPirit instead of against it.
So this lent, I want to acknowledge that although my eyes are often dim, my heart is often dull and my ears hard of hearing, there are times when God's Spirit breaks through those barriers. What do I do with the knowledge and compassion then gained? Let me not waste it. I am blessed not merely for my own sake, but rather to be a blessing to others.
B
Blessed are our eyes when we are able to see God's Spirit working in the world. Blessed are our ears when we hear the words we need. Blessed eve are our hearts when they rejoice with God and God's people. We truly are blessed as were the disciples. They saw, and heard and felt something in Jesus' words that was important to them. Important enough to abandon their homes and families and work to roam the countryside doing God's work. Blessed are we when we choose to work with the Holy SPirit instead of against it.
So this lent, I want to acknowledge that although my eyes are often dim, my heart is often dull and my ears hard of hearing, there are times when God's Spirit breaks through those barriers. What do I do with the knowledge and compassion then gained? Let me not waste it. I am blessed not merely for my own sake, but rather to be a blessing to others.
B
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Numb
Matthew 13:15 - For this people's hearts have grown dull, and their ears hard of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears and understand with their hearts, and turn for me to heal them."
He is still quoting Isaiah talking about the people of Israel. Yet, he could just as easily have been describing us! We are so afraid of being vulnerable! How often do we get angry when we see homeless people on the street begging? Have we asked ourselves why we feel angry or uncomfortable? It's because we do not want Jesus to heal us. For Jesus to heal us would mean we would have to be in the world in a different way. It would require work and pain and we do not want that. That is why we dull our hearts, close our ears and deny the witness of our eyes. It is always easier to numb the pain than to deal with the problem.
At least at first. This way can lead to addiction and that involves putting something else in the place of God - whether intentionally or not. When we numb ourselves we lose our center, our sense of being, and we may even lose ourselves. Isaiah's words are quite an indictment of the human condition. We seek pleasure and avoid pain. That is not the key to joy or happiness. Letting the world affect us and change us and make us more loving is the key to change. In other words, we must be vulnerable to it.
B
He is still quoting Isaiah talking about the people of Israel. Yet, he could just as easily have been describing us! We are so afraid of being vulnerable! How often do we get angry when we see homeless people on the street begging? Have we asked ourselves why we feel angry or uncomfortable? It's because we do not want Jesus to heal us. For Jesus to heal us would mean we would have to be in the world in a different way. It would require work and pain and we do not want that. That is why we dull our hearts, close our ears and deny the witness of our eyes. It is always easier to numb the pain than to deal with the problem.
At least at first. This way can lead to addiction and that involves putting something else in the place of God - whether intentionally or not. When we numb ourselves we lose our center, our sense of being, and we may even lose ourselves. Isaiah's words are quite an indictment of the human condition. We seek pleasure and avoid pain. That is not the key to joy or happiness. Letting the world affect us and change us and make us more loving is the key to change. In other words, we must be vulnerable to it.
B
Monday, February 8, 2016
Seeing and hearing with our hearts
Matthew 13:13-14 - For this reason I speak to them in parables; that seeing they do not see and hearing they may not hear. With them indeed is fulfilled the words of the prophet Isaiah, "You shall indeed hear but never understand, you shall indeed see but never perceive."
Parables are stories that ring true on the outside. We are still talking about the parable of the generous farmer who flings seeds willy nilly. We understand that such a farmer will not succeed in farming because he/she is wasting their seed. Yet, just as a parabola reaches toward its limit and never arrives, so a parable come close to the truth it is illustrating without ever saying it outright. That is why we must read/hear these parables through the lens of Love, we must use our hearts rather than our eyes or our ears.
Only then will we truly perceive or understand that the goal of the farmer in Jesus' parable is not the goal of any earthly farmer! Rather the farmer represents God and the seed is God's infinite love. Where something is infinite the concept of wasting it makes no sense. So it is with God's love - there is enough and more for everyone. God's desire is that we would receive this love in our hearts. And 'we' means everyone, even those I might perceive to be dangerous. All means all.
So let us pray that we may hear our thoughts and those of others with our hearts rather than our minds. Let us hear others through the lens of Love.
B
Parables are stories that ring true on the outside. We are still talking about the parable of the generous farmer who flings seeds willy nilly. We understand that such a farmer will not succeed in farming because he/she is wasting their seed. Yet, just as a parabola reaches toward its limit and never arrives, so a parable come close to the truth it is illustrating without ever saying it outright. That is why we must read/hear these parables through the lens of Love, we must use our hearts rather than our eyes or our ears.
Only then will we truly perceive or understand that the goal of the farmer in Jesus' parable is not the goal of any earthly farmer! Rather the farmer represents God and the seed is God's infinite love. Where something is infinite the concept of wasting it makes no sense. So it is with God's love - there is enough and more for everyone. God's desire is that we would receive this love in our hearts. And 'we' means everyone, even those I might perceive to be dangerous. All means all.
So let us pray that we may hear our thoughts and those of others with our hearts rather than our minds. Let us hear others through the lens of Love.
B
Thursday, February 4, 2016
The one who has
Matthew 13:12 - For the one who has (the secret of heaven) will be given more, and that one will have abundance; but the one who doesn't have (the secret of heaven), even what that one has will be taken away.
Jesus is still answering the disciples' question about parables. Those who understand the secrets of heaven will learn by hearing them; those who don't will only become more confused. So we are back to our soil. Yet, even those who don't understand are recipients of God's love. I think it is important to remember that throughout this pericope. Jesus is not saying that those who do not have the secrets of heaven are losers and doomed to hell. Only that those who have the secrets of heaven will be able to gain through his parables.
This passage taken out of context describes the contemporary American political landscape. A few rich people control both the Democrats and Republicans. It is very hard on African-American people as well as poor people in general. Particularly in Chicago where Rahm Emmanuel (Ha!) has been systematically cutting services for these populations as well as closing public schools in favor of charter schools. Jesus is NOT condoning taking from the poor!
I just thought of a possibility for the secrets of heaven: LOVE. I may be slow on that! Those who love, will receive love in return (usually) and those who cannot/will not love, cannot receive love in return.
B
Jesus is still answering the disciples' question about parables. Those who understand the secrets of heaven will learn by hearing them; those who don't will only become more confused. So we are back to our soil. Yet, even those who don't understand are recipients of God's love. I think it is important to remember that throughout this pericope. Jesus is not saying that those who do not have the secrets of heaven are losers and doomed to hell. Only that those who have the secrets of heaven will be able to gain through his parables.
This passage taken out of context describes the contemporary American political landscape. A few rich people control both the Democrats and Republicans. It is very hard on African-American people as well as poor people in general. Particularly in Chicago where Rahm Emmanuel (Ha!) has been systematically cutting services for these populations as well as closing public schools in favor of charter schools. Jesus is NOT condoning taking from the poor!
I just thought of a possibility for the secrets of heaven: LOVE. I may be slow on that! Those who love, will receive love in return (usually) and those who cannot/will not love, cannot receive love in return.
B
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
Secrets
Matthew 13:10-11 - And the disciples came to him and asked him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of heaven but to them it has not been given."
The secrets of heaven? Why do some get it and some don't? Could it have anything to do with the soil he talked about in the previous parable? That's the thing about parables - they sometimes have more than one interpretation. When our hearts are good and open - we are more open to the secrets of heaven, whatever Jesus means by this. When our hearts are closed to God and to others, then we will only see what we see with our eyes, rather than our hearts. God does speak to all of us - even when we are not ready to receive it.
B
The secrets of heaven? Why do some get it and some don't? Could it have anything to do with the soil he talked about in the previous parable? That's the thing about parables - they sometimes have more than one interpretation. When our hearts are good and open - we are more open to the secrets of heaven, whatever Jesus means by this. When our hearts are closed to God and to others, then we will only see what we see with our eyes, rather than our hearts. God does speak to all of us - even when we are not ready to receive it.
B
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