[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 12A

[Joe Parrish]

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-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Jul 23, 2011 10:46 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 12A


Dear Friends,

Tomorrow’s sermon is entitled “Thy Kingdom Come” and deals with the
Gospel (Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52). Here it is:

“Thy Kingdom Come”- where’s that from?  Sure, the Lord’s Prayer.  We
heard Jesus teaching about God’s Kingdom in today’s gospel.  This
morning, I’d like us to look at the that very familiar phrase, so when
we say that beloved prayer later on in our liturgy and when we say it
this evening before we go to bed, it will have even greater meaning.

A few weeks ago, I spent some time in the Saginaw Valley Ford showroom
while my car was being repaired. I couldn’t help looking at all those
beautiful cars. At the time, I wondered if the Kingdom of God was like
a beautiful new automobile.  Did you hear the story of the couple who
needed a new car?  He wanted a tough, rugged truck, but she wanted a
pretty little sports car.  Finally, the wife figured out how to get
her pretty little car.  Her birthday was coming up in a few weeks, so
she told him, “I just want something that goes from 0 to 200 in just a
few seconds.  Now surprise me.”  Her husband did just that.  He did
get her something that goes from 0 to 200 in a few seconds, and she
really was surprised!  What was it?  A bathroom scale!  He hasn’t been
seen or heard from since.

Jesus said the Kingdom of God is like- not a car, but a mustard seed-
strange, but true.  Years ago, someone planted the seed, the God seed,
in your life.  How did you first become a Christian?  Who first told
you about Jesus, got you baptized, started you going to church?  Maybe
that seed took root right away, or maybe it sat there in your mind for
a while; but when the time was right, it took root and here you are.
That seed which started so very small, is in process of blossoming
into a mighty tree strong enough to withstand whatever storms life
throws at you.  Jesus is right.  The Kingdom of God is like a seed.

Jesus also said that the Kingdom of God is like yeast in three large
batches of flour (actually about 80 pounds of flour- enough to make
bread for 100-150 people).  You’ve seen this at work in your own life
and the lives of others. Think of the times the God used one willing
person to bring about His will in a family or a group or a class or a
nation.  Moses was the yeast that empowered the children of Israel to
escape from Egypt and travel through the dessert to the Promised
Land.  Harriet Tubman was the yeast that empowered American slaves to
claim their freedom, in spite of huge adversity.  The Rev. Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. was the yeast that started our great country in its
march toward racial and social justice.  God uses people as His yeast
to bring forth His will.

Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is like treasure someone happens to
find in a field or a pearl someone finds in a jewelry shop.  That
person makes purchasing that field or pearl his or her highest
priority.  God’s will doesn’t just happen.  God uses people who put
God first, who make God their highest priority.

Finally, Jesus said that the Kingdom of God is like a net full of
fish.  What’s he saying here?  The church is like the net, and Jesus
is saying that everyone is welcome.  No one should ever pick and
choose who’s welcome in their church.  It’s not our business.  The
angels decide at the close of the age, in other words when we die, if
we truly are part of the Kingdom.

The Kingdom of God is like a mustard seed- keep fertilizing and
watering it.
The Kingdom of God is like yeast in 80 pounds of flour- speak God’s
Words of justice, peace and love- no matter what the cost.
The Kingdom of God is like treasure in a field or a pearl in a jewelry
shop.  Spend what you must of time and energy to achieve it.
The Kingdom of God is like various kinds of fish in a net.  The ground
is level at the foot of the cross.

Thy Kingdom come, O Lord!  Amen.



For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
wisdom statements are posted on our parish web site. The address is:
http://www.stpaulsepisag.com .

Blessed preaching.
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan

 
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