e-vo for week of July 25

Dearest e-votees-

July 25th is the day that is set aside in the church calendar to commemorate the Apostle James (aka James son of Zebedee aka James the brother of John aka James the Elder). In honor of that event in our church calendar we will look at when James and his brother ask Jesus for the best seats in the house when Jesus comes in his glory (in the Matthew 20:20-28 account it is their mother who does the asking).

One of my favorite authors, Gordon Atkinson (aka RealLivePreacher) wrote a version of this story folding in the demoniac who was healed in Mark 5:1-20. I would commend this version to you as well as it is a wonderfully engaging account. Let the reader beware there is PG-13 language to be had in this version. If you still want to read it you can find it at: James, John and Crazy Joe.

May we blessed as we celebrate the life and testimony of James and take the rightful place that Jesus has prepared for us in the kingdom of God.

Peace,
Karl

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35 James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came forward to him and said to him, "Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you." 36 And he said to them, "What is it you want me to do for you?" 37 And they said to him, "Grant us to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your glory." 38 But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?" 39 They replied, "We are able." Then Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink you will drink; and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; 40 but to sit at my right hand or at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared." 41 When the ten heard this, they began to be angry with James and John. 42 So Jesus called them and said to them, "You know that among the Gentiles those whom they recognize as their rulers lord it over them, and their great ones are tyrants over them. 43 But it is not so among you; but whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Mark 10:35-45, NRSV

There is a call on each and every one of us created in God’s image who have been baptized into life in Jesus--that call is to one of service.

Jesus came and showed us this by pouring his life out on the cross.

Jesus came and showed us this by pouring water in a basin and doing the lowest work that could be found on behalf of those who would abandon him and deny him and betray him.

Jesus came and showed us this by letting a Samaritan woman pour him a drink which allowed her to be empowered and affirmed and engaged breaking all sorts of cultural taboos.

Jesus came and showed us this by letting his cousin John pour water over him and baptize him even though John thought it should be the other way around.

Jesus asks James and John (not the baptizer) if they are able to drink his cup and share in his baptism. They say that they are. Perhaps they weren’t so sure during the trials and throes of Holy Week that soon followed. Perhaps they weren’t so sure during the persecutions of the church. But Jesus was with them. And he never forsook them. And they have taken the places prepared for them--the ones he himself went to prepare (see John 14:1-3). James and John are secure because Jesus made promises on behalf of God. And Jesus fulfills the promises of God.

Perhaps there is a cup that we might like to pass our lips. Perhaps there is a foreboding baptism. We might be wondering if we can put the cup to our lips or be immersed in the baptism that is before us. We might cough out an “I’m able, Lord” or we might just keep a dubious silence. There may be times where we feel persecuted or in over our heads or abandoned. But Jesus will not forsake us. There is a place that is prepared for us too. Jesus went to prepare our place and he will return for us. We are secure because Jesus made promises on behalf of God. And Jesus fulfills the promises of God.

While we wait we can bide our time in service. If we get noticed or not isn’t so important. Whether or where we sit or stand or kneel isn’t so important. If we are in front of the room or in back of the room or serving as a doorkeeper isn’t so important. What is important is that Jesus came and gave his life as a ransom for many—and for one, you. Our place is secure. Jesus poured out his life and invites us through baptism to be poured out with him. Why would we even think of passing up such a life-giving offer?


God, teach us to abide in our baptisms. Let your gracious waters pour into our lives. Pour us out as agents of your grace in the world as we give ourselves to your work, to wash feet, to reach out to the shunned and the cutoff and to enter into your kingdom on your terms—grace, mercy and forgiveness. Amen.

e-vo for week of July 18

Dearest e-votees-

This coming week I will be in New Orleans with 35,000 some youth and adults for the national ELCA youth gathering. Please pray for all of us for safe travel, open hearts and changed lives.

This is coming out early so that I can be more like Mary and less like Martha in New Orleans.

Peace,
Karl

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30 The apostles gathered around Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, “Come away to a deserted place all by yourselves and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going and recognized them, and they hurried there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34 As he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

[skipping over feeding of the 5,000 and Jesus walking on water]

53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54 When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 55 and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

Mark 6:30-34, 53-56, NRSV

The apostles gathered around Jesus. Jesus invites them to come away to a deserted place to rest. They had been so busy that they hadn’t even had time to be properly fed. So the apostles and Jesus went. But many others also were tired, hungry and needing sustenance. They needed spiritual food. And soon they needed physical food. And the apostles shift from Marys sitting at the feet of Jesus to Marthas trying to take care of all the hungry mouths.

The point of the first part of our lesson is that Jesus regarded the people needing sustenance as sheep without a shepherd so he provided for them both spiritually and physically. Through his teaching they, like Mary at his feet, were sustained.

As Jesus and the apostles go on the move again they are swarmed by all the residents of the region who needed healing. People who were fed and nourished have shared the word and others are flocking to be fed, nourished and healed as well.

We are called to gather around Jesus—whether for a season like the upcoming youth gathering in New Orleans or in regular devotion time or in worship. Jesus invites us to come to a deserted place and rest. We are beckoned to eat our fill. Others may come and their needs might disrupt our scripted meals and programmed quiet time. Jesus’ heart will be drawn to those like sheep without a shepherd—ours should too.

If we, and others, who have had our fill, our healing and our touch from Jesus then we will find ways to give testimony. Word will spread. More will come. Just as we rave about the latest restauarant we have unearthed to all who might hear God wants us to rave about Jesus and about the sustenance we have received from him. When we do God will bless those words. People will come from all places to see if this Jesus we make known is real. May we welcome them as they take their place at the feet Jesus next to us and to Mary.

God, help us hear your call to us today. Help us find quiet place to rest and be sustained. Amen.

e-vo for week of July 11

Dearest e-votees-

The appointed gospel text for this week in the Revised Common Lectionary is Mark’s account of the dispatching of John the Baptist.

For our devotional time this week we will draw from the appointed Psalm text which has some deep connections to the life and ministry of John. We will look at the text verse-by-verse.

At the end of each mini-reflection is a prayer petition that God might have God’s way in our lives.

Peace,
Karl

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The verses that did not get included in this week’s psalmody (verses 1-7) are worthy of consideration. I commend them to you. They speak of God’s forgiveness and mercy and are an earnest prayer for God’s mercies and forgiveness to come anew. Not a bad way to start one’s devotion or one’s day.

Psalm 85 (NRSV)

Verse 8 Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.

God has spoken. God will speak. God is speaking. One of our neighboring congregations had “God is still speaking. Don’t put a period where God put a comma.” on their reader board recently. This hearkens back to a 2004 United Church of Christ campaign that was in part inspired by a quote attributed to Gracie Allen “Never place a period where God has placed a comma.” The story is that she left that in a note for her husband George Burns who found it after she had passed. What a word of grace to a grieving heart.

God is still speaking. God is speaking a word of peace. God speaks to those who are faithful. God speaks to those of us who struggle to be faithful, too. And God speaks to those of us who flat out fail at being faithful. God will help us turn Godward in our hearts. We will grow in our ability to hear God’s message of peace. God will shape us to be messengers of that peace in a war-weary and embattled world. God can and will use us to help others turn Godward in their hearts. We can offer a word of grace to grieving hearts.

“God speak your words speak into our hearts and from our mouths.”

Verse 9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.

Fear has the connotation of deep respect and awe in addition to senses of terror or dread. God’s glory is an awesome presence. We do well to not engage it lightly or recklessly. Just as the majesty of the ocean can obscure the treacherous undertow God’s majesty can snatch us too. But God snatches us towards a good end. The drowning is not a literal drowning but more akin to the drowning of baptism. We are immersed and submerged in the gracious and cleansing waters. The very same waters John offered to help people prepare for the one coming who would baptize with the Holy Spirit. Salvation is indeed at hand.

“God bring your saving glory to bear in our lives.”

Verse 10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; righteousness and peace will kiss each other.

Love and faithfulness have met. They came together in the person of God incarnate, Jesus. Jesus came bearing love and redemption for all who would hear. He faithfully bridged the chasm we could not in order to restore us in relationship with God. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other as Jesus and his cousin John’s lives and ministries intersected. John preached righteousness and repentance. Jesus lived righteousness and repentance. Jesus lived into the calling to be Prince of Peace and opened the way for all to find restoration and healing—peace with God. John lived faithfully and true to the point of losing his life rather than compromise his message.

“God beckon us fully into the kingdom of peace and grant us tenacity of faith when persecutions beset us.”

Verse 11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, and righteousness will look down from the sky.

In the garden God creates humanity from the ground. In restored relationship with God faithfulness is nurtured. We will never be completely faithful. And how faithful we become will never enhance nor threaten our salvation. Our salvation rests secure in our Father in heaven who knows us and loves us. Our salvation rests secure in Jesus who left the Father to show us the full extent of God’s knowledge and love of us. Our salvation story rests secure as the Holy Spirit reminds and inspires the faithful telling of good news to those who have yet to hear and those who have forgotten.

“God draw faithfulness from us and keep your loving and righteous gaze on our days.”

Verse 12 The Lord will give what is good, and our land will yield its increase.

Every good gift is from God. Every breath, every morsel of food, every kind and loving relationship, every gift, every ability, every possession—every good gift is from God. God blesses us in so many ways that we do not begin to merit. God gives good gifts to God’s children. When we ask for an egg, God won’t give us a scorpion (see Luke 11:11-13). God is faithful and good. We may well experience blessing and prosperity and abundance from our gracious God. When we do we give thanks for God’s goodness. At other times the blessings won’t be so apparent. The resources may be stretched beyond what seems tolerable. Abundance may seem scarce. Our good and loving and gracious God has not forsaken us. When that happens we give thanks for God’s goodness, too. True faith persists through the droughts and the persecutions and, in John’s case, the beheadings.

“God help us receive well whatever you choose to send our way and give us a steadfast faith regardless of what comes or does not.”

Verse 13 Righteousness will go before him, and will make a path for his steps.

Righteousness has gone before Jesus. John the Baptist came and lived a life of testimony that was in stark contrast to the world around him. People flocked to him and asked to be baptized by him and changed their ways in response to him. Jesus connects John to Elijah who was to usher in the Lord (see Malachi 4:5). John made a path for Jesus’ steps. John made a path for our steps as well. John’s steely spine and passionate proclamation spoke to the crowds and spoke to Herod and have words for us as well—do we hear? Jesus’ resolute focus towards Jerusalem and passion spoke to the crowds and spoke to Nicodemus and spoke to the Samaritan Woman and can speak to us too—do we hear? There is a path before us. We don’t travel alone. John led the way. Jesus followed and opened up the way for all of us to travel with him.

“God draw us into the journey with you. Help us celebrate and emulate faithful followers such as John who poured themselves out fully for your sake. Amen.”

e-vo for week of July 4

Dearest e-votees-

For this week we’ll take a look at the epistle reading from 2 Corinthians.

Peace,
Karl

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2 I know a person in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows. 3 And I know that such a person—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know; God knows— 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard things that are not to be told, that no mortal is permitted to repeat. 5 On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses. 6 But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, 7 even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. 8 Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 9 but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness." So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:2-10, NRSV

Three strands from this passage from 2 Corinthians:

What the world experiences of us is in our actions and our words

Perhaps the folks at Young Life said it best “They don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Paul was certainly speaking along the same lines when he wrote:

If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3, NRSV

All people are want purpose and meaning in their lives. Often this comes through the lives of others. What makes the others persuasive isn’t their boasting or their great learning or their potent curriculum vitae or any other such qualifications. Paul had all that was required to make a case for himself from personal experience and training. But he got knocked of his high horse. He is now at the point in his journey where he will let what he does and what he says allow people to make their judgments—boasting is excluded. His life is an epistle to those who will read it.

People are looking for people to help them find purpose and meaning. They will experience others through what they see and what they hear. When actions and words have a deep resonance and are done in love then mountains can be moved. God can best speak through us when we let God transform our ways and our words in the world. It’s not about being perfect -- it’s about being people of honesty, integrity and humility.


Prayers that are answered “No.” are still answered prayers

Our lives are to be ones of prayer. We are invited to approach God boldly with the desires of our heart. There are some potent promises about the prayers of the faithful offered in Jesus’ name. Some want to oversell the case that God is inclined to grant the prayer requests lifted up. God is a loving God. God is experienced by what God does and what God says. Part of that love, as any parent knows, is not always giving your child what they want. Sometimes we attach to much meaning to the “yes” or “no” of the response to prayer and not enough meaning to the loving God who is answering our prayers.

Paul wanted this thorn of the flesh removed. And so he prayed. David wanted the sick child born of Bathsheba to be made well. And so he prayed for seven days to that end (2 Samuel 12:15-18). Jesus wanted the cup to pass from his lips in the garden of Gethsemane. And so he prayed with sweat like drops of blood revealing his agony. There are or will be times where we will pray with all we know and believe and feel for a desired outcome. We may sense a dispassionate silence in response. Our senses aren’t always reliable. God will indeed answer our prayers by declining our request at times but it is always much more of a “No, …” “No, my grace is sufficient for you” or “No, the suffering has gone on long enough” or “No, because I know you and love you” or some other reason.

God is not capricious. God does not take joy in our hearts being hurt through answering our prayers with a “No.” God know our feelings and our dreams and our hurts better than we ourselves. God’s intimacy with us allows God to know best and “No.” best. God answers our prayers even when it is not how we had hoped.


God’s grace is sufficient for us.

Our actions and our words won’t always line up well. We aren’t always the people of honesty, integrity and humility that God has called us to be. People may look at us and find anything but a source of purpose and meaning. Grace is here. Grace is now. God’s grace is sufficient for us.

People may not realize the depth of understanding or revelation that has been given to us. People who surround us may seem light years ahead in terms of their journey along the path of faith. We may look at our own lives and wonder what godly difference are we making. Grace is here. Grace is now. God’s grace is sufficient for us.

We may be in a spot like Paul or David or Jesus where we are threatened or hurting or grieving. We may be crying out with all that we have hoping against hope for a divine intervention. We may be hurting from the “No.” that clearly spoke against our hopes. We may feel like crying out with Jesus “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Grace is here. Grace is now. God’s grace is sufficient for us.

You have a whole day ahead of you. You have a life with all its adventures and pitfalls. You have things of which you are painfully aware and things of which you are completely oblivious. You have a cross that Jesus has invited you to carry. You have moments and decisions that will impact your future and cannot always be taken back. Grace is here. Grace is now. God’s grace is sufficient for you.


God, teach us to pray. God, help us to trust particularly when things don’t go as we had hoped. God, form us into a people of grace. Amen.

e-vo for week of June 27

Dearest e-votees-

This week we will look at the appointed Old Testament text for the 5th Sunday after Pentecost.

May we be blessed as we remember the steadfast love of the Lord which never, never ceases.

Peace,
Karl

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22 The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." 25 The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. 26 It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. 27 It is good for one to bear the yoke in youth, 28 to sit alone in silence when the Lord has imposed it, 29 to put one's mouth to the dust (there may yet be hope), 30 to give one's cheek to the smiter, and be filled with insults. 31 For the Lord will not reject forever. 32 Although he causes grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; 33 for he does not willingly afflict or grieve anyone.

Lamentations 3:22-33, NRSV

It would be nice if we were always assuredly aware of the steadfast love of the Lord. That no matter what came our way we would know without a flicker of a doubt that all is well and that we are absolutely secure.

But sometimes come the dark nights of the soul:

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_Night_of_the_Soul)

Sometimes we forget who it is who truly sustains us and gives us all that we need. We place our hope in illusory supports and even trust our own strength and conniving to dig us out. We get impatient waiting. We stubbornly hunker down in our despair. We find that even youthful strength and chutzpah is no match for the yokes that can crush down so persistently on us. We find ourselves face down in the dirt, smitten and scorned. We might wonder what we have done to cause God to set upon us and maybe even reject us now and forever.

Sometimes the dark nights come but God’s mercies come in the morning. God is faithful. God’s love is faithful. So much more than our failings and shortcomings is the persistent and gracious and restorative love of God.

Sometimes we forget whose we are and who sustains us. But God will never forget us. God continues to pour manna and loaves and fishes and daily bread and everything else we need to live and thrive for God knows that we don’t live by bread alone.

Sometimes we get restless and anxious and our reptilian brains kick in. The lamenter encourages us to wait and trust and to bear the things that have come our way. We are called, with God’s help, to transcend our fears. They will pass. God’s love and good favor will not.

My hope and prayer is that these words don’t speak to you so very much because you are palpably aware that you are good and secure in God’s love. If not, however, may these words offer comfort and hope. God loves you more than you can know. That love will never, never cease. Thanks be to God.


God, continue to sustain us with your steadfast love. We pray that you would shape us into vessels that anoint the hurting world around us with that very same steadfast love. Amen.

e-vo for week of June 20

Dearest e-votees-

Our appointed psalm lesson for this week is Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32. It is certainly drawn upon to reinforce the appointed gospel lesson from Mark 4:35-41 where Jesus calms the storm.

One thing that is lost through this particular snipping of the pericope, however, is that we lose the repetition of the refrain found in verses 6, 13, 19 and 28: “Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he [“delivered them” (6), “saved them” (13 & 19), “brought them out” (28)] from their distress;”

No matter the trouble whether in the desert places or in prisons or in sickness or in turbulent seas the response from God when the people cried out was always God rescuing them from their distress. Do you think God’s heart is still inclined to come to the aid of God’s people when they cry out in faith and hope?

Peace,
Karl

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1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, those he redeemed from trouble 3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south.

23 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the mighty waters; 24 they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep. 25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. 26 They mounted up to heaven, they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their calamity; 27 they reeled and staggered like drunkards, and were at their wits’ end. 28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out from their distress; 29 he made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 Then they were glad because they had quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. 31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wonderful works to humankind. 32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32, NRSV

There are two strands of salvation.

There is the salvation of verses 1-3. God’s steadfast love which endures forever (even beyond the grave). God redeems us from all troubles, all trials and afflictions. The beggar Lazarus and the repentant thief (traditionally named Dysmas) and even [insert your name here] who struggled and was afflicted with [you know what goes here] are made whole and well and healed and will spend eternity as part of the great cloud of saints gathered from all compass points. The Great Commission has brought us and many to the font and to places of learning and discipleship and to life—life eternal. We know how this story ends and it will end well. God will bring to completion what God has begun.

There is also the salvation of verses 23-31 [and 4-9 and 10-16 and 17-22] in which God’s steadfast love breaks into situations that beset us in this life. Things come our way. We cry out to the Lord in our trouble and mercy comes. We cry out to the Lord in our trouble and healing comes. We cry out to the Lord in our trouble and freedom comes. We cry out to the Lord in our struggles and failings and temptations and healing comes. Things are made right. Storms are stilled. Demons are sent packing. We are found clothed and in our right minds wanting to walk with Jesus every day. People who knew us before might not even recognize us or may even be terrified at the holy transformation that has occurred in our lives.

But as real and true and awesome and necessary the second sort of salvation is we know that it is sometimes only a temporary reset. The other Lazarus was given a mulligan but he still got to go through death again. Sometimes the storms do us in. Sometimes a part of us dies from exposure in the desert. Sometimes we don’t get spared the consequences of our wrong-headed choices. Sometimes things come our way whether merited—think Adam and Eve; think Ananias and Sapphira—and sometimes when they are not—think Job (also part of this week’s appointed lessons); think the man born blind. Something will be our undoing. Whether a literal death or a figurative death something will trump our abilities to survive—maybe storms; maybe consequences of our sinfulness; maybe desert exposure; maybe chambers and prisons—we will not survive everything that besets us. Death and mortality are part of our fallen nature.

Our job is not to heap judgment on those who might succumb as Job’s “friends” did. All of us will find ourselves among the ashes with only potsherds to bring us comfort at some point. Death will come. Healing will not always be the end of our sicknesses in this world. We do well to offer comfort and care to all who suffer knowing that in caring for “the least of these” we care for Jesus. May God’s mercy and comfort send us such ministering angels when it is our time. And then we die.

But that first salvation trumps the failings of the second salvation. Death will not win. Jesus’ resurrection is the forerunner of our own resurrections. We will be with Lazarus in Abraham’s bosom. We will be with Jesus in Paradise with Dysmas. The storms will be ceased once and for all. There will be no more crying save, perhaps, tears of purest joy. Thanks be to God that we will be saved. And because of that we need not fear any storm, nor any cell, nor any illness, nor any desert, nor even any fiery furnace for “If our God who we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue you have set up.” (Daniel 3:17-18, NRSV


Saving God, save us as you will in this life. Teach us to cry out to you and to wait for your salvation. You are good and faithful. And when we are not saved from our demise in this life raise us imperishable to take our place with you and the great cloud of witnesses for the truest and purest and most holy salvation you have established for your people. Amen.

e-vo for week of June 13

Dearest e-votees,

Jesus uses figurative language to tease out the nuances of the kingdom of God. This week we have a couple parables about seeds and plant growth. May God bless us all as we receive and share seeds, allow them to germinate and celebrate the growth that only God can accomplish.

Peace,
Karl

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26 He also said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, 27 and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. 28 The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. 29 But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come." 30 He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; 32 yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." 33 With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; 34 he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

Mark 4:26-34, NRSV

At the beginning of the 4th chapter of Mark Jesus tells a parable about seeds being sowed. After a brief recap of Isaiah 6:9-10 and the purpose of parables Jesus interprets the parable of the sower. The varieties of soils and subsequent growth are different sorts of people and how the word takes root in their lives. The two parables of the seeds assigned for this coming Sunday follow on the heels of the parable of the sower and its interpretation.

The kingdom of God gets seed scattered into our lives. The seed is certainly the word. The seed may also be the witness of faithful lives of parents, baptismal sponsors, friends and perfect strangers. The seed may also be traditions and customs and practices of the faith communities to which we belong. The seed may also be our denominational connections with their particular theological sensibilities. The seed could be whatever God chooses to use to cause the kingdom of God to grow in our lives.

In the parable it is striking that the “someone” who is sowing has no idea how the seeds are sprouting and growing.

God plants seeds in our lives. We don’t know how they sprout or grow. There are some things we can do to that may facilitate the growth: regular watering (returning to and remembering our baptism), fertilizing (put the dead and decaying things into the mix so that God can bring new life out of them—repentance, confession, etc.) and even talking to the plant (drawing near life-giving conversations and teachings—Bible studies, sermons, mutual consolation of the saints). But ultimately, it is not about what we do or do not do but rather what God began and what God brings to completion.

A very favorite Bible verse to me is:

3 I thank my God every time I remember you, 4 constantly praying with joy in every one of my prayers for all of you, 5 because of your sharing in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:3-6, NRSV

God begins a good work and God brings it to completion.

God will also use us to sow seeds into the lives of others. We may well be oblivious to the sprouting and growing but they are certainly accomplishing what God intended -- see Isaiah 55:10-11. The point is not us or how well we cast the seed or how faithfully we watered it and fertilized and verbally coaxed it from the ground. The point is not even if we are aware of the growth going on or not. The point it God begins the work and God brings it to completion.

Lord of the harvest, continue to cast your seeds into our lives and grow them according to your plan. Use us as you wish to accomplish your plans and cast seeds in your name into the lives of others. Help us release our frets and concerns about the crop knowing that you created the seeds to do what you intended. You begin the work and you bring it to completion. In that be glorified.