Seventh Sunday After Pentecost – Pastor Ellen Mills
I am offering you two ways to receive this. In print, you will need to read the scriptures for yourself, and then the prayer and reflection that follow in this post. If you click on the audio link below (below), you can hear all of it, including the scripture
Seventh Sunday After Pentecost
The Lord be with you.
And also with you.
Let us pray,
Faithful God, most merciful judge, you care for your children with firmness and compassion. By your Spirit nurture us who live in your kingdom, that we may be rooted in the way of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen.
Isaiah 44:6-8
Psalm 86:11-17
Romans 8:12-25
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
What a great time of year for this parable. I was thinking of it this morning as I walked around my apartment complex. The good thing about living in an apartment, is that I am not responsible for lawn care, and over all, I like the landscaping. This complex has been around for more than 30 years, and we have a lot of trees and plants. But the lawncare company does the big stuff, and does not weed. The staff weed when they get around to it. And I am a gardener, and I notice weeds. I see them, and they elicit a response in me that they do not belong there! The worst was the thistle plant they let grow to 4 feet with flowers about to open. Do you know how thistles spread? But it did get removed, just in time. I don’t think my reactions are unusual, especially for a gardener. And it must have been so in Jesus’ time as well. Clearly Jesus was talking to people who did not believe that weeds should be allowed to grow in a wheat field. And this was not the age of large tractors and combines and herbicide spreaders. Farmers would have had an intimate acquaintance with weeds, and would have pulled or cut them by hand. And so each time I read this parable, I have two reactions. The first is just as I have said. It is an “Of course!” reaction to wanting to get rid of the weeds. But then each time I am reminded by what Jesus actually says. It is not just that Jesus says the weeds need to be left so that the wheat is not damaged. The part that sticks out for me is who does the weeding. The people working in the fields clearly thought they could tell the weeds from the wheat, and they should do something about them. But they were told to leave the weeds alone until the harvest. And then, they should leave it to those reaping the wheat. And as Jesus explains the parable, he gives that role of weed identification and separation to the angels. Did you get this? It doesn’t matter if we think we have identified a weed, or even if we know its Latin name. It’s not our job. We are not given the job to divide everyone into weeds and wheat. Somehow, Jesus must have something else in mind for us.
And this may be hard. Not only are we in a very polarized time, we learn to separate objects from a very young age. What is round, what is square. What is large, what is small. Our brains do it so easily. But maybe Jesus is not addressing our brains. Maybe Jesus is addressing our hearts. Over and over, as humans, we want to be the doorkeepers for God. We are so sure we know who should be in and who should be out! But this parable makes me wonder if maybe we really don’t. We do not appear to be called to this job we keep trying to do. Jesus is telling us to leave the weeds and wheat alone and let them grow together until the harvest. Our focus is to be on following Jesus, and growing in love. And maybe as we are caring for the crop, we are to care for all of the plants, giving them all opportunities for growth, and letting God handle the rest. Maybe we are to focus on growing in what God desires, and allow ourselves to be shaped by God’s priorities. The psalm this morning begins with, “Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart to revere your name.” Perhaps this is a reminder to check with God first about God’s desire for us rather than set up our own agenda and then try to get God to fulfill it.
In times of chaos and upheaval, there can be opportunity as well as crisis. We have had to set aside familiar ways of doing things. It may feel just as uncomfortable as letting weeds grow. But we may not yet know what will be needed in very different circumstances. We can see this situation as temporary, and become restless and impatient until it ends, and refuse to learn to do anything differently. Or we can allow ourselves to dream and wonder and ask how things might work in a new way. What might we do to encourage all of us to flourish? How might we preserve or even increase a sense of community in these separated times? What are we willing to do or learn so that we might connect with more people?
And then the challenge of the psalm. What are the ways of God in this new time? Can we learn to trust God enough in the days ahead that we do not need to know and control every step? Are we willing to have an undivided heart for God alone? Can we let go of our attachment to our comfort zone, and attach ourselves to the love and faithfulness of God ? Amen.
Confident of your care and helped by the Holy Spirit, we pray for the church, the world, and all who are in need.
God of the harvest, you sow the good seed of the gospel of Jesus Christ into your field. Help your church throughout the world to be both diligent and patient, full of resolve and gentleness, that our witness may be faithful to your intentions. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God of all grace and time, your whole creation groans in labor pains, awaiting the gift of new birth. Renew the earth, sky, and sea, so that all your creation experiences freedom from the bondage of decay. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God of the nations, teach us your ways, that we may walk in your truth. Mend the fabric of the human family, now torn apart by our fearful and warring ways. Guide us by your mercy, grace, and steadfast love. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God of hope, you accompany those who suffer and are near to the brokenhearted. Open our hearts to your children who are lonely and abandoned, who feel trapped by despair, and all who suffer in any way. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God of the seasons, in the midst of summer, give us refreshment, renewal, and new opportunities. We pray for the safety of those who travel. We pray for those who cannot take the rest they need. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
Loving God, you call leaders of the church. Guide our congregational council as they interview a candidate. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
God of life, those who have died in you shine like the sun in your endless kingdom. We remember with thanksgiving the saints of all times and places and saints close to us. Gather us with them on the day of salvation. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
In the certain hope that nothing can separate us from your love, we offer these prayers to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Lord bless you and keep you.
The Lord’s face shine upon you with grace and mercy.
The Lord look upon you with favor, and give you peace.
Amen.