Third Sunday after Pentecost

Sermon : June 13th 2021 

I don’t get a chance to do much recreational reading anymore. But when I do I like a good adventure mystery – David Baldacci is one of my favorite writers. Do you like a good mystery? Once in a while I’ll join Arianna and Laurie while they watch Teagarden mysteries on hallmark. I used to enjoy an episode of Father Brown from time to time. Usually mysteries are who dun its – where you try to guess who it is that committed the crime – which is usually murder. The first part of today’s passage is not so much a who done it – but a how’d he do it The sower casts the seed – and low and behold it grows – it describes how it grows first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain in the head. Nowadays we can give an even greater and immensely more detailed picture of what happens, and we even have an understanding of the processes that are involved – but the how are why are still a bit of a mystery. And yet Jesus says the KOG is like the seed – it grows and it’s a mystery. The sower casts the seed – and it happens – it grows Our faith is rational, it is historical – there really was a nation of Israel – there really was a Jesus of Nazareth – and a whole host of people witnessed his miracles, teaching, death and resurrection – these are some of the best attested events in history. And yet there is mystery to God and His Kingdom. We sow seeds as we proclaim God’s word – not only when we do that on Sunday morning. There is mystery when God comes to us by way of His Word and Spirit in the waters of baptism and in the bread and wine – his body and blood. And yet by way of these real elements God’s Kingdom grows.  We get glimpses of it sometimes – often when we look back we can see how God was with us and how He was working in and through us. How he brought certain people across our path that shared God’s love and God’s word with us. Since father’s day is coming up I’ve been thinking about my dad a bit. He was a pretty good athlete – fast, strong and athletic. And like most athletes they have athletic aspirations for their kids. When I was playing football in high school I was plagued with injuries – I was always tearing up my ankles. So on one of those nights when I got banged up my dad was driving home from the game and really feeling sorry for me – kind of having a conversation with God and wondering why God would let this happen to me over and over again. And even in the midst of all the big and important things that God deals with caring for the world – he had time to speak to my dad’s heart about something as trivial as his son’s sprained ankle. Almost 30 years later my dad finally told me that God spoke to his heart as clear as could be that night and God’s phrase to my dad was “o ye of little faith.”  Since my dad didn’t spend much time reading or studying the Bible he thought that God was condemning him and punishing me because of my Dad’s lack of faith. Now by the time my dad finally got around to admitting to me that God had spoke to his heart that Friday night long ago - I had completed a year of Bible school – by then I had learned enough to look at the whole passage when considering a phrase or a verse. There are several references to little faith in Matthew’s gospel but probably the most remarkable is this whole section of Matthew ch 6 – Matt 6:27  And who of you by being worried can add a single [q]hour to his [r]life? 28 And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, 29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! 31 Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ 32 For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But [s]seek first [t]His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be [u]added to you. 34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will [v]care for itself. [w]Each day has enough trouble of its own. Now we have to be careful when God speaks to our heart – we have to be convinced that it’s really God – and the main thing we are concerned about – is it in line with God’s word? – and was it in my Dad’s case? – yes it was – word for word from Matthew’s gospel.              And what was God saying to my Dad? 
It was a little seed that the Lord sowed – a word of comfort – telling him not to worry – letting him know that God was watching over me, my dad and our family. And God utilized a whole set of circumstances to cause that seed to bear fruit 30 years later – in my life, in my dad’s life and in our family’s life and now 50 years later as I share it with you. You see that little snippet of God’s word – is like the seed that was sown – and grew somehow – like a little mustard seed – growing and spreading out and touching lives – encouraging faith and trust in this God that delights in showing His love for us – even if it’s just, when a dad is worried about his kid’s sprained ankle.  Amen 
 
Written By : Pr.Tom
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