July 17, 2011: Genesis 28:10-19a; Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24; Isaiah 44:6-8; Psalm 86:11-17; Romans 8:12-25 Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Isaiah 44:6-8: “Thus says the LORD, the King of Israel
and his Redeemer, the LORD of hosts:
I am the first and I am the last;
besides me there is no god.
7 Who is like me? Let them proclaim it,
let them declare and set it forth before me.
Who has announced from of old the things to come?
Let them tell us what is yet to be.
8 Do not fear, or be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
You are my witnesses!
Is there any god besides me?
There is no other rock; I know not one.”
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43: “ He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well.
27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?” 28 He answered, “An enemy has done this.” The slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” 29 But he replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’
36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.’ 37 He answered, ‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!
Proper 11 (16), Fifth Sunday after Pentecost Comment: Last summer the marigolds I purchased from a nearby nursery were so beautiful, I decided to save their seeds to plant this summer. I put the seeds in bags and labeled them noting the color.
This summer I happily planed the marigold seeds and watched them almost daily waiting to see them sprout. They did, but I also noticed a lot more than I planted also sprouted with the marigolds. The idea of uprooting and killing the good I planted stirred in me the God given emotions of caring and concern like that of Jesus.
Our God, made known in Jesus understands that living alongside of evil is difficult. However, I believe that if we stand firm as children of righteousness in the midst of evil, perhaps some of those weeds will be transformed into marigolds…
Do not fear, or be afraid;
have I not told you from of old and declared it?
You are my witnesses! Isaiah 44:8