July 27, 2008
Rev Linda Fernandes-Bailey
Seeds, Yeast, Fishing and Beyond
I don’t garden, cook (at least not much) or fish so imagine my surprise when I read what the kingdom of heaven is like and Jesus begins by talking about seeds, yeast and nets. As if the kingdom of God wasn’t hard enough to wrap your brain around! Telling Parables is the method Jesus uses to explain what the kingdom is like offering images that reveal what God is doing in our midst and hopefully will expand our understanding. They are meant to make understanding easier somehow. Not meant to give pat answers but something like a brainteaser, getting the listener to really think. Jesus tells the disciples in the beginning of the chapter that he speaks in parables because people don’t understand, he says, “seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.” The kingdom apparently has been all around them yet they do not see it…they don’t understand. Sound familiar? I could relate! So what is this kingdom that Jesus is talking about? Kingdom…sounds rather patriarchal to me but Jesus is speaking to a patriarchal culture they get it…some of us prefer the reign of God, the realm of God or my favorite the household of God…just to give you another perspective.
First of all, Matthew’s chapter contains six or so parables that explain the kingdom of God so it becomes obvious, at least to me, that it is multi-dimensional...it’s deep and profound it is not one thing nor is it always easy to understand! But it is what Jesus’ ministry is all about revealing the kingdom of God. The kingdom is within us, in our midst, coming in the future and worth giving up everything for! When you think of what Jesus’ ministry entailed what is it you think about? I think of forgiveness and reconciliation, radical hospitality, healing, caring for the poor and widowed, challenging the status quo and compassion to name a few. So, it seems to me that whenever we continue Jesus’ ministry the kingdom of God is revealed. Could it be that simple?
Marcus Borg affirms that the phase “kingdom of God” is central to Jesus’ ministry and that it is a metaphor or symbol with a range of meanings rather than one single meaning. He goes on to name five possible meanings. I want to share those with you. I’ll paraphrase a bit. Borg says that the kingdom is revealed in the message and activity of Jesus. These are the examples he offers: Jesus as a healer and exorcist reveals the power of God, Jesus’ wisdom teachings refer to the presence of God, Jesus as a social prophet reveals the kingdom of God as a social vision, the kingdom can refer to the community of those living under the kingship of God (who’s in who’s out God decides you heard that last week right?), and finally he says it can refer to the final or eternal kingdom (This is often the single meaning we cling to though it isn’t primarily what scripture says) I wanted to share these to point to the fact that the kingdom is many things and the parables help us to expand our thinking. It was a method Jesus used not to give simple answers but to get people thinking on a deeper level…to dig deeper.
Anyway, back to the parables. The first two the mustard seed and the parable of the yeast seem to be about small things becoming big. The mustard seed the smallest of seeds then grows like a weed and it’s hard to stop it! Imagine one small ripple towards the kingdom and it just keeps growing! Same with the yeast but in a more radical way because according to Borg we have a woman associated with impurity, taking yeast which was considered impure. Things get tipped upside down in the kingdom even what was considered impure reveals God. Jesus challenges conventional wisdom.
Well, thinking of small things growing big made me think of a story I read in the local paper in Watertown. It was a story of an eight year old girl who had a birthday party and decided that rather than accept presents she would ask her friends to donate money to a wildlife foundation. She had heard a story in her classroom at school about the plight of apes and was concerned. She raised $200.00. I have to say, the story moved me to tears! One story read…one little girl and who knows how others at the party were affected. Will it keep growing and growing and get wildly out of hand? A birthday party with no gifts for an eight year old…what kind of party is that? Everything is not how you would expect…tipped upside down, such is the kingdom of God… no stopping it once it gets started.
John Crossan says about the mustard seed “ it tends to take over where it is not wanted…like a pungent shrub with dangerous takeover properties” The kingdom of God can be dangerous it can take over where it is not wanted. Imagine a world perhaps where the rich can’t keep getting richer, universal health care, equal pay, fair housing, a world were all people are loved and valued…even those we don’t think are worthy of the kingdom…who knows if we plant one small seed it might take over and justice and love will spread like weeds. The kingdom of God can make us uncomfortable for sure! Things start looking very different. We like things to stay the same don’t we?
The next two parables are about hidden treasures and pearls. It seems to me the meaning in this parable suggests that the kingdom of God is so valuable we are willing to pay a huge price for it. Give up everything! The spiritual formation bible reminds us, “Jesus asserts that the kingdom of heaven is so valuable that people would gladly give all they have to possess it.” Then it asks you use your imagination…Listen and imagine. “Imagine God standing before you with a gift—the kingdom of God---just for you. What will it mean for you if you receive it? But wait, your hands are full! You cannot receive God’s gift until you put down what you are holding. What is it? Are you willing to put it down to receive God’s gift?”
The kingdom is complicated. It is hidden and revealed. Present and future. Something we participate in and something we stumble upon quite by accident. It is about starting small and seeing what grows. It is about seeking, finding, receiving and giving. It is so valuable we are willing to give up much to receive it. It touches us personally and yet it is a social movement. It changes the way we think and the way we live our lives.
The kingdom is spread out among us and we probably miss it everyday. Don’t you think? Remember that the kingdom of God was revealed in Jesus’ message and ministry and still those who walked with him missed it. Jesus urges us to be awake. Pay attention. We live rushed lives and it leads to sleep walking. But still the kingdom breaks through in small moments and in big events. Have you been aware of it lately? Where have you noticed it? It is revealed in moments when God’s presence is real…God’s power transforming.
I remember one of the classes I taught here a few years ago. It seemed like everyone in the class was full of doubt. Doubting God’s very existence. I was new to ministry and it was making me rather anxious fearing they might all leave the church sparked by a class I was offering… Hardly what I had in mind. But suddenly or maybe it was very slowly things began to change. Faith was restored. People came to a different place than when they walked through the door. Some were visibly transformed. I felt foolish for being anxious, for doubting the power of God. Something happened. The kingdom of God was in our midst…spread out right before us. It didn’t stay in the classroom I assure you. Those who were there went out spreading like weeds…rising like yeast spreading hope…talking about faith…spreading the word…being Christ’s hands and feet in the world. The kingdom of God is in our midst…do you not perceive it? Amen