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

[Joe Parrish]

Forwarded:



-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: propertalk.topic <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Jul 26, 2014 8:45 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 12A



Dear Friends,
 
This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Thy Kingdom Come” and deals with the gospel(13:31-33, 44-52).  Here it is:
 
“Thy Kingdom Come”- where’sthat from?  Sure, the Lord’s Prayer.  We heard Jesus teaching about God’s Kingdomin today’s gospel.  This morning, I’dlike us to look at the that very familiar phrase, so when we say that belovedprayer later on in our liturgy and when we say it this evening before we go tobed, it will have even greater meaning.  
 
Have you ever visited a newcar showroom or watched automobile commercials on TV and dreamed?  I wonder if the Kingdom of God is like abeautiful new automobile- full of promise and excitement.  Did you hear the story of the couple whoneeded 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 herpretty little car.  Her birthday wascoming up in a few weeks, so she told him, “I just want something that goesfrom 0 to 200 in just a few seconds.  Nowsurprise me.”  Her husband did justthat.  He did get her something that goesfrom 0 to 200 in a few seconds, and she really was surprised!  What was it? A bathroom scale!  They went to amarriage counselor the very next day!
 
Jesus said the Kingdom ofGod is like- not a car, but a mustard seed- strange, but true.  Years ago, someone planted the seed, the Godseed, in your life.  How did you firstbecome a Christian?  Who first told youabout Jesus, got you baptized, started you going to church?  Maybe that seed took root right away, ormaybe it sat there in your mind for a while; but when the time was right, ittook root and here you are.  That seedwhich started so very small, is in process of blossoming into a mighty treestrong enough to withstand whatever storms life throws at you.  Jesus is right.  The Kingdom of God is like a seed.
 
Jesus also said that theKingdom of God is like yeast in three large batches of flour (actually about 80pounds of flour- enough to make bread for 100-150 people).  You’ve seen this at work in your own life andthe lives of others. Think of the times the God used one willing person tobring about His will in a family or a group or a class or a nation.  Moses was the yeast that empowered thechildren of Israel to escape from Egypt and travel through the dessert to thePromised Land.  Harriet Tubman and other(mostly anonymous) underground railroad conductors- they were the yeast thatempowered American slaves to claim their freedom, in spite of hugeadversity.  The Rev. Martin Luther King,Jr. was the yeast that started our great country in its march toward racial andsocial justice.  God uses people as Hisyeast to bring forth His will.
 
Jesus said that the Kingdomof God is like treasure someone happens to find in a field or a pearl someonefinds in a jewelry shop.  That personmakes 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 makeGod their highest priority.  
 
Finally, Jesus said thatthe Kingdom of God is like a net full of fish. What’s he saying here?  The churchis like the net, and Jesus is saying that everyone is welcome.  No one should ever pick and choose who’swelcome in their church.  It’s not ourbusiness.  The angels decide at the closeof the age, in other words when we die, if we truly are part of theKingdom.  
 
The Kingdom of God is likea mustard seed- keep fertilizing and watering it.
The Kingdom of God is likeyeast in 80 pounds of flour- speak God’s Words of justice, peace and love- nomatter what the cost.
The Kingdom of God is liketreasure in a field or a pearl in a jewelry shop.  Spend what you must of time and energy toachieve it.
The Kingdom of God is likevarious kinds of fish in a net.  Theground is level at the foot of the cross.
 
Thy Kingdom come, OLord!  Amen.
 
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updatedAfrican-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s NEW WEB SITEunder “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
 
Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan

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