July 27th - Reflection

Mark 4:30-34 (NRSV)

Jesus' use of parables

He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade."

With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.

Reflection
A couple of ways to take this at least. Traditionally one may consider that the kingdom of God grows from very small beginnings to the greatest of all kingdoms. Another way to take this would be to consider the greatness of the shrub and it's branches that evil birds can nest in that greatness.

It seems throughout much of the lives of the kings of Israel and Judah that when greatness is achieved and the power and rule of the king has expanded, a fall is soon to follow. That applies to our lives as well. There is a caution that we must consider when our lives in the kingdom expand; we are targets of the devil. The devil loves more than anything to see a fall of an expanded and mature child of God at the height of faith.

But isn't faith a little relative. Who of us, in comparison to all the faith there could be, ever is expanded and awesome. Sure we are gifted children of God, but our lives have so far to go that we can't even imagine the destination. Our lives need to be so rooted in the trust of Jesus that we follow, ask questions, are obedient, we learn and grow, but we trust in the direction of Jesus to the point that our hope lies in all that is about Jesus. We don't leave our hope in our own direction but in the direction of God.

When we fall into the trap, is when we think that we have done this or that and surely will get to heaven if we just pray and go to church, or do things to earn God's favor. It doesn't work that way at all. We could never do enough things, even the goody goody things, to get into heaven. Our only way into heaven is through Jesus. We are followers of Jesus into heaven, not by what we do, but by the faith we have that Jesus will lead us where we need to go. Heaven is not an earned place. Heaven is a gift from God that only God chooses to grant through the life, suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. I didn't do any of that...Jesus did that! So follow Jesus.

Don't you just love how God chooses to use earthly illustrations in parables and sacraments and salvation. God sent a man, in Jesus to save us. I understand a human. God uses water in baptism. God uses bread and wine to help with understanding communion and the great sacrifice he gave for our lives in Jesus. God uses a lamb and other animals to illustrate a sacrificial offering. God uses so many earthly elements to illustrate and point out his goodness and grace so that we may begin to understand just the tip of God's greatness and grace and love for us.

So few words in this passage, but such abundance of grace. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, you lead and I'll follow and obey and learn some on the way. I trust in your direction, even when the going gets tough. --- Amen