The Kingdom of Heaven is Like . . .

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 12 (Year A)

Matthew 13.31-33, 44-52

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (Beginning at 14:50)

Today’s Gospel reading is a series of five parables, which is actually part of a longer series of seven parables—the first two of which we heard the last two weeks, along with their explanations. This series has a common theme: “the kingdom of heaven is like . . .” While the first two—the ones we heard the last two weeks—were much longer and more detailed, the ones we hear today are much shorter. Despite their brevity, they contain a wealth of information. It’s worth taking a critical look at these five parables to determine what truths they hold. Not only to provide us with an image of what God’s kingdom will be like in its fullness, but what it might take to help us get there.

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“Know That I Am with You and Will Keep You Wherever You Go”

Seventh Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 11 (Year A)

Genesis 28.10-19a; Romans 8.12-25

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (Beginning at 17:45)

When I hear our Old Testament reading—what is commonly referred to as the story of Jacob’s ladder—I cannot help but think of a song from my childhood and youth. A song we sang in Sunday School and at church camps and retreats: “We Are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder.” Perhaps you know the song.

The first verse goes:

    We are climbing Jacob’s ladder;

we are climbing Jacob’s ladder;

    we are climbing Jacob’s ladder;

soldiers of the cross.

Without the threefold repetition, the successive verses are:

“Every round goes higher, higher”

“Sinner, do you love my Jesus?”

“If you love him, why not serve him?”

And finally:

“We are climbing higher, higher.”[1]

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Seeking to Bear Abundant Fruit

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 10 (Year A)

Matthew 13.1-9, 18-23

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (Beginning at 13:40)

Jesus loves his parables. Simply put, a parable is “a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson.”[1] For Jesus, parables were a proven way to teach about the kingdom of God using common images that his hearers could relate to. Part of the teaching process was that the hearers of the parable were expected to work for the answer. To struggle with the story presented and to figure out the gem hidden within. To figure out the truth Jesus was trying to convey.

Since our modern-day congregations do not live in the same circumstances or have the same worldview as the original hearers of Jesus’ parables, the job of the preacher (me) is to try to explain what Jesus meant, based on historical and cultural context. To translate the parable into terms more readily understandable to our 21^st century American perspective. But in today’s Gospel reading, Jesus makes that virtually impossible because he also explains the parable. Not to the original audience. That would take all the fun out of telling a parable in the first place.

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Take My Yoke Upon You

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost – Proper 9 (Year A)

Matthew 11.16-19, 25-30

St. Gregory’s, Long Beach

Live Streamed on Parish Facebook Page (beginning at 14:20)

(Sermon begins at about 14:20)

“Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest” (Mt 11.28). How timely these words are. How in need we are of hearing them.

Even in normal times—you remember, that time BC: Before COVID—we were already weary and carried heavy burdens. The demands of work, with the pressures to meet unreasonable deadlines, to continually produce more and more. For some, the struggle to even just find employment. The demands of family life and running a household. The challenge of balancing work and home life. Concerns about finances—how to make ends meet, let alone how to save enough to hopefully retire one day. Struggles with health issues—both our own, as well as caring for loved ones with their own health concerns. For those who have lost a spouse, struggling with loneliness, and trying to build a new life without the one you thought you would spend the rest of your life with. For those who are older, being shut-in and having limited social contact.

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