Today we celebrated the eighth Sunday after Trinity accompanied by Abigail.
This Week
Tuesday – 10am Prayer Group in the Garden Room
Thursday 10am – Said Holy Communion followed by coffee in the hall.
A message from Harry, please do support if you can – The Monroe Family will be participating in our 9th Walk on 27th August 2023, and would welcome donations to JustGiving.com to the account of ‘Off the Beatson Track 2023’.
If anyone wants to donate cash to me at some stage they can drop me a note at my email address and we can make arrangements.
Readings for next Sunday – 9th Sunday after Trinity – The Transfiguration – Daniel 7:9-10,13-14 2 Peter 1:16-19 Luke 9:28-39
Today’s readings – 1 Kings 3:5-12, Romans 8:26-end, Matthew 13:31-33,44-52
I’m sure if I asked each one of you what your idea of heaven is you would all give different answers. Generally speaking, it is considered to be a beautiful place bathed in heavenly music, perhaps surrounded by our loved ones and long lost pets. Our fantasies of heaven may even focus on the surreal, products of our imaginations and hopes.
Many artists over the centuries have painted such scenes.
Over a lifetime there can be a number of times when we do have glimpses of such a heavenly state. There are times when we are particularly happy, in love and harmony with all around us and we may even say to ourselves “this is heaven, I’m in heaven.” Proving that some of our ideas of the kingdom of heaven may be rooted in our everyday experiences and be part of our daily lives.
We may also think of God’s kingdom as a place which reflects kingdom values, where the people live in joy and peace with one another. Where their lives reflect God’s goodness, love and forgiveness. When we pray for the state of our world, we often pray for kingdom values to prevail.
Today in our gospel Jesus tells several parables all describing the kingdom of heaven. Essentially what he was illustrating was that the kingdom of heaven is not just some lofty and heavenly place that we may aspire to some day when this life is over, but actually the kingdom is already here and can be found in our daily lives.
It may indeed have mystical connotations, intangible in essence – it’s not even a place as such. Certainly, the title “The kingdom of heaven” may sound exulted, supremely holy, and consequently, perhaps, not really connected with matters of daily life. Yet the pictures Jesus paints couldn’t be more down to earth and relates to the practicalities of life. He tells us…..
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed…Yeast which rises and expands…….Treasure hidden in a field… one pearl of great value.” Matt 13:31ff
The illustrations are many. Jesus uses these examples as he is determined that his followers should not miss what is right in front and all around them.
So, his teaching points consistently to a kingdom of heaven that is not out of reach somewhere in the skies but very much to be found in the here and the now in the seeds of the mustard bush, the loaf of bread, the fish in the sea, and in the ebb and flow of ordinary daily life and relationships.
Jesus’ teachings are clear. We so often make our faith complicated and grandiose, but we needn’t. Jesus addressed housewives, farmers, fisherman and everyone. He spoke of yeast, growing seeds and animal life. Jesus speaks of the tiny seed which grows to become a strong bush. He talks of the single cell of yeasts helping flat ingredients become a wholesome loaf. He tells of people who, in their everyday surroundings spot real treasure – in the field and among the pearls – treasure whish they value sufficiently to give up all else to gain. And to the fishing communities, Jesus spoke of a huge sea harvest, fish of every kind.
In a world which is dominated by technology we may feel that today these are not such easy connections to make, our lives are so different from the ancient people of the bible, populations are predominantly urban rather than rural. But the truths embedded in Jesus’ teachings are timeless and universal and where necessary we need to translate them into new parables.
So, Jesus continues to encourage his followers and us today to live our faith through a deep reconnection with the wonders of the created world and within the ordinary fabric of our daily lives, whether we happen to be young or old, city workers or farmers.
In the life and activities of every age and every person, the potential of the kingdom of God is to be found. But it can be hidden and needs to be searched out.
But the fact is the kingdom of heaven is all around us, in our prayer and worship and in the content of our daily lives.
So, whatever our age or life situation, perhaps a part of our prayer each day should echo the sentiment expressed by the seventeenth century poet and priest George Herbert: “Teach me my God and King in all things thee to see, and what I do in anything, to do it as for thee…..”