Sermon071308

Sermon for July 13, 2008

Listen to the sermon!

Ninth Sunday after Pentecost July 12-13, 2008

Grace Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Pa

Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Year A, Proper 10, Lect. 15

What could be simpler than preaching on today’s gospel reading?

Everybody loves a good story – and since Jesus tells a good story today

I don’t even have to make one up!

Sometimes a story can be tricky, though…there are layers of meaning,

different ways to understand it, maybe there’s a secret “key” to the story.

But hey, Jesus has taken care of that too!

Matthew has helpfully recorded Jesus’ own explanation of the story,

to make sure we understand it.

So, that should do it right?

Any questions?

Ok, Amen!

Of course, you knew it wouldn’t be that easy right?

But why isn’t it just that easy?

It isn’t that easy, because actually, Jesus himself says it isn’t that easy.

What’s going on in verses 10 – 17? Why did we skip them?

Did anybody wonder? Well, before you presume to “understand”

ANY of Jesus’ parables, you should understand these verses,

which begin with the disciples’ question:

Matt 13:10 ff:

"Why do you speak to them in parables?"

And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.
For to him who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.
With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says: `You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive.
For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing,
and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears,
and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them.'
But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear.
Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. “

Maybe Jesus means it’s not supposed to be so easy to understand a parable after all?

Of course it is troubling to hear Jesus speak in this way;

that is why those who pick the readings recommend that the wise preacher

skip over these verses:

wouldn’t want those simple folk in the pews to strain their brain muscles

or sprain their spiritual ankles!

I don’t buy that.

These verses MUST BE essential to understanding the parables,

because only here does Jesus explain how he understands his hearers.

In fact, here Jesus explains how he understands WHAT IT MEANS

to “understand.”

So, listen carefully, again, if you dare!

Why does Jesus speak in parables, according to himself?

“Because…with them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says:

`You shall indeed hear but never understand,

and you shall indeed see but never perceive.
For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing,

and their eyes they have closed,
lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears,
and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them.'

Jesus perceives that God’s people do not really want to hear what he has to say,

because, deep down, they know what it means…

it means they are lost without God,

sick without God,

stuck in their sins,

unable to move, to change

fearful above all of losing themselves

and what little control of their lives

they think they have managed to bargain for themselves.

Jesus knows that most of all, what we need, or think we need

is to think well of ourselves.

It takes a mighty persuasive word, to convince us that

we should not think well of ourselves.

We are so good at thinking well of ourselves,

that we are blind and deaf and our hearts are dull

to what is really going on.

It is so very difficult for us to believe that we have any problems that only God can solve -- that our only choice is to turn to God and let God heal us with His word.

But that, Jesus implies, is the problem.

We don’t want to hear the truth.

So he tells a story, like a good rabbi would always do,

because a good rabbi knows that a story should never be easily understood, especially if it is making a point that puts its hearer in a bad light.

He tells a story about seeds thrown around on the ground

all the different kinds of ground it can land on

and all the different things that can happen to a seed

only one of which is to grow and bear fruit.

And those who have ears, let them hear!

But those whose ears are not really interested can say

What a silly story!

What is this nonsense about seeds and rocks and birds and so forth?

Those whose eyes are blind to their sins and the injustice in the world can say:

My harvest is plentiful; I must be doing something right!

Those whose hearts are dull to the pain of others

will only think well of themselves

“what good soil I must be.”

So, Jesus explains to his disciples,

the word is out…the seed is sown.

God has sown the seed by the word of the prophets

and the word of his Son Jesus.

Jesus has sown the seed by proclaiming the nearness of God

how very close the Kingdom of God has come.

The disciples have seen and heard and understood,

they are bearing fruit, following Jesus, living in his nearness

trusting in his goodness, living out his justice:

God’s love and mercy for every man woman and child,

every sinner who needs repentance and

every self-righteous idiot who is ready to admit

that they don’t really have it all figured out!

What is quite amazing is that we keep telling ourselves this story!

We keep telling it, I think, because we have figured out a way

to tell it to ourselves without really letting it speak to us.

I believe the only way we can keep telling ourselves this story so easily

is by changing what it means, into a story that suits us.

For us it has become a story about believing in God,

without actually understanding who God is

and what God’s word says to us.

We talk about believing in God

and trusting God and needing God

without ever knowing God, without listening to God,

without opening our hearts to the pain of the vast majority of the world’s people crying out for justice and peace.

That justice and peace is so near.

Since Jesus is risen from death and will rule the new life to come

that justice and peace of God WILL one day be our life together.

It could, quite possibly BE our life together now if we

could be bothered to take the presence and promises of God seriously.

But believing in God’s justice and doing God’s justice ourselves

are two different things.

What will they do who understand what seeds Jesus has sown,

what justice God is bringing

what Kingdom is drawing near?

What stories will we let ourselves hear?

And what stories will we have to let go of?

That’s a very interesting question for the wealthiest people

with the largest military in the world, isn’t it?

How much longer can we enjoy what we have

if we are not at peace among the nations

and with the earth itself?

If world politics and world peace is not your thing, that’s fine too.

You are, among all the peoples of the world, most free to make a difference,

One story at a time,

seeds are sown,

ears and eyes are opened

hearts are changed

and Christ is known.

Amen.

	Grace Lutheran Church *Worshipping with the Saints -- Seeing Christ in others* Lancaster, Pennsylvania
(717) 397 2748 Welcome Our Mission For Every Day Map / Directions Thought to Ponder Staff Worship WorshipThoughts Services Worship Music Lesson 8/24/08 Sermons Sermon 7/20/08 Lessons 7/20/08 Sermon 7/13/08 Lessons 7/13/08 Sermon 7/06/08 Lessons 7/06/08 Sermon 6/29/08 ComplineInfo Calendar Grace News August 20, 2008 August 13, 2008 August 05, 2008 Concerts Ministries Christian Education Music Childcare Youth Housing Ministry Parish Nurses Advice Seniors Slovakia Tanzania Links Our/Church Members Say History Windows of Grace Library	Sermon for July 13, 2008 Listen to the sermon! Ninth Sunday after Pentecost July 12-13, 2008 Grace Lutheran Church, Lancaster, Pa Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23 Year A, Proper 10, Lect. 15 What could be simpler than preaching on today’s gospel reading? Everybody loves a good story – and since Jesus tells a good story today I don’t even have to make one up! Sometimes a story can be tricky, though…there are layers of meaning, different ways to understand it, maybe there’s a secret “key” to the story. But hey, Jesus has taken care of that too! Matthew has helpfully recorded Jesus’ own explanation of the story, to make sure we understand it. So, that should do it right? Any questions? Ok, Amen! Of course, you knew it wouldn’t be that easy right? But why isn’t it just that easy? It isn’t that easy, because actually, Jesus himself says it isn’t that easy. What’s going on in verses 10 – 17? Why did we skip them? Did anybody wonder? Well, before you presume to “understand” ANY of Jesus’ parables, you should understand these verses, which begin with the disciples’ question: Matt 13:10 ff: "Why do you speak to them in parables?" And he answered them, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to him who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says: `You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them.' But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. “ Maybe Jesus means it’s not supposed to be so easy to understand a parable after all? Of course it is troubling to hear Jesus speak in this way; that is why those who pick the readings recommend that the wise preacher skip over these verses: wouldn’t want those simple folk in the pews to strain their brain muscles or sprain their spiritual ankles! I don’t buy that. These verses MUST BE essential to understanding the parables, because only here does Jesus explain how he understands his hearers. In fact, here Jesus explains how he understands WHAT IT MEANS to “understand.” So, listen carefully, again, if you dare! Why does Jesus speak in parables, according to himself? “Because…with them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah which says: `You shall indeed hear but never understand, and you shall indeed see but never perceive. For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are heavy of hearing, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should perceive with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and turn for me to heal them.' Jesus perceives that God’s people do not really want to hear what he has to say, because, deep down, they know what it means… it means they are lost without God, sick without God, stuck in their sins, unable to move, to change fearful above all of losing themselves and what little control of their lives they think they have managed to bargain for themselves. Jesus knows that most of all, what we need, or think we need is to think well of ourselves. It takes a mighty persuasive word, to convince us that we should not think well of ourselves. We are so good at thinking well of ourselves, that we are blind and deaf and our hearts are dull to what is really going on. It is so very difficult for us to believe that we have any problems that only God can solve -- that our only choice is to turn to God and let God heal us with His word. But that, Jesus implies, is the problem. We don’t want to hear the truth. So he tells a story, like a good rabbi would always do, because a good rabbi knows that a story should never be easily understood, especially if it is making a point that puts its hearer in a bad light. He tells a story about seeds thrown around on the ground all the different kinds of ground it can land on and all the different things that can happen to a seed only one of which is to grow and bear fruit. And those who have ears, let them hear! But those whose ears are not really interested can say What a silly story! What is this nonsense about seeds and rocks and birds and so forth? Those whose eyes are blind to their sins and the injustice in the world can say: My harvest is plentiful; I must be doing something right! Those whose hearts are dull to the pain of others will only think well of themselves “what good soil I must be.” So, Jesus explains to his disciples, the word is out…the seed is sown. God has sown the seed by the word of the prophets and the word of his Son Jesus. Jesus has sown the seed by proclaiming the nearness of God how very close the Kingdom of God has come. The disciples have seen and heard and understood, they are bearing fruit, following Jesus, living in his nearness trusting in his goodness, living out his justice: God’s love and mercy for every man woman and child, every sinner who needs repentance and every self-righteous idiot who is ready to admit that they don’t really have it all figured out! What is quite amazing is that we keep telling ourselves this story! We keep telling it, I think, because we have figured out a way to tell it to ourselves without really letting it speak to us. I believe the only way we can keep telling ourselves this story so easily is by changing what it means, into a story that suits us. For us it has become a story about believing in God, without actually understanding who God is and what God’s word says to us. We talk about believing in God and trusting God and needing God without ever knowing God, without listening to God, without opening our hearts to the pain of the vast majority of the world’s people crying out for justice and peace. That justice and peace is so near. Since Jesus is risen from death and will rule the new life to come that justice and peace of God WILL one day be our life together. It could, quite possibly BE our life together now if we could be bothered to take the presence and promises of God seriously. But believing in God’s justice and doing God’s justice ourselves are two different things. What will they do who understand what seeds Jesus has sown, what justice God is bringing what Kingdom is drawing near? What stories will we let ourselves hear? And what stories will we have to let go of? That’s a very interesting question for the wealthiest people with the largest military in the world, isn’t it? How much longer can we enjoy what we have if we are not at peace among the nations and with the earth itself? If world politics and world peace is not your thing, that’s fine too. You are, among all the peoples of the world, most free to make a difference, One story at a time, seeds are sown, ears and eyes are opened hearts are changed and Christ is known. Amen.
Grace Lutheran Church -- 517 North Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603 -- (717) 397 2748