For Sunday, July
30, 2017, 8th Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, Readings: Genesis
29:15-28, Psalm 105:1-11, 45b; Romans 8:26-39,
Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52
When morning came,
there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, 'What is this you have done to me? I
served you for Rachel, didn't I? Why have you deceived me?' [Gen 29:25 NIV]
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon
his Name; make known his deeds among the peoples...let the hearts of those
who seek the Lord rejoice. Search for the Lord and his strength... [Psalm 105:
3-4a NRSV]
If God is for us, who is against
us?...Who will separate us from the love of Christ?...neither death, nor life,
nor angels, nor rulers, not things present, nor things to come...will be able
to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Romans
8:31b, 38 NRSV]
Jesus [said]: " The
Kingdom of Heaven is like a mustard seed...like yeast...like treasure hidden in
a field...[and] like [a pearl] of great value...[and] like a net
that...caught every fish...when it was full, they...put the good into the
baskets but threw out the bad. [Matthew
13:31, 33, 44, 45, 48-49 NIV]
A continuing family
drama this week: The deceiver is deceived. But to Jacob’s good credit (he often
needs all he can get), he chose to work hard and faithfully to win the hand of lovely
Rachel, and, even though it was a bait and switch scheme by Laban (did Jacob understand
the irony of sibling substitution?), he also honored his commitment to work an
additional seven years after two weddings in two weeks. In using imperfect
people to show us to ourselves, we also see that we, like Jacob, are still
counted among all those that God loves, regardless of our flaws.
Jesus lets loose quite a barrage of
parables to further explain the kingdom of God in everyday illustrations for
that time and some in our own. There is something for everyone to do whether we are planting tiny mustard seeds to grow into large trees for
nesting birds and human food, mixing yeast with flour to expand the dough of
life, finding buried treasure in the field of an everyday experience, or
discovering a pearl so perfect that we choose to sell all we own to buy it. And
there are times when we must allow ourselves to be caught like fish in a net,
and the goal of that moment – and every other – is to be sorted into the
baskets with the good fish rather than thrown out with the bad.
One message here is that there is no perfection in humanity but in choosing well, our smallest efforts can grow and yield a large return. We must remember that God is always present and search for the Lord and his strength, as the Psalmist tells us, and sometimes that requires some digging. Paul tells us that to be separated from the love of God through Jesus, even with all of our faults, is nearly impossible. After all, If God is for us, who can be against us? Only ourselves! And the choice to be separated would have to be our own.
One message here is that there is no perfection in humanity but in choosing well, our smallest efforts can grow and yield a large return. We must remember that God is always present and search for the Lord and his strength, as the Psalmist tells us, and sometimes that requires some digging. Paul tells us that to be separated from the love of God through Jesus, even with all of our faults, is nearly impossible. After all, If God is for us, who can be against us? Only ourselves! And the choice to be separated would have to be our own.
The Spirit of God, if we open ourselves
in faith, is the yeast that expands our understanding, our relationship, and
the willingness to seek God’s purpose in all that we do. The love of Christ is
what blends us all, as Christ’s own, together, and God gathers the yield of all the
harvest. Some days in God’s Creation are better than others yet God is the
constant that draws us. All we have to do is decide: Which part of the harvest do
we choose to be – great mustard or bad fish?
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~
O God of Strength and Presence, we receive the smallest seeds, the yeast that
gives rise, and the hidden treasures of everyday life, which are only a few of
the markers of Your bountiful love. Guide us to seek and discover the many ordinary
and miraculous ways that Your Creation fills our souls beyond measure when we
open ourselves in faith.
Spirit
of God
RESPONSE: Help
us in our weakness
~ O God of
Strength and Presence, excite the willingness of the political leaders of our
Planet, our Nation, and our Community to provide life’s basic necessities for
Your neediest people, ethical and practical legislation for all those they govern,
and globally beneficial partnerships across the Earth. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Spirit
of God
Help us in our weakness
~
O God of Strength and Presence, ease the burden of illness, injury, or despair
for those who suffer, and bring relief to those who give them care. We now
join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…
Spirit
of God
Help us in our weakness
~ O God of
Strength and Presence, we hold closely in our hearts all who have traveled to
the end of their human experience, now shining in the radiance of Your glorious
light, peacefully and joyously nesting in Your heavenly tree of eternal life. We
pray especially for: add your own petitions
Spirit
of God
Help us in our weakness
~ O God of
Strength and Presence, we pause in
this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or
silently…
Spirit
of God
Help us in our weakness
~ O God of
Strength and Presence, bestow the gift of grace-filled respite for all who are called
to lead us in Your church. Let us pray, worship, and work together for all that
is good, according to Your purpose, and out of our love for You. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
Spirit
of God
Help us in our weakness
The Celebrant adds:
O Lord, our God, as You are always for us, nothing can separate us from the
enduring love of Christ but ourselves. Catch us in Your ample net and draw us
out of the troubled waters of our own making, that we may find our way into the
good basket of Your Kingdom of Heaven. We ask through Jesus, our Hope and our
Savior, and the Holy Spirit, our Advocate and Counselor, who together with You
are our One God, forever and ever. Amen.
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