from a sermon by the Rev. Kate Atkinson June 13/14 - Read the full sermon here.
Jesus tells us that
the kingdom of God is like a seed scattered on the ground that sprouts and
grows overnight while the person who planted it is asleep. And the kingdom of
God is like a mustard seed that grows into a shrub as big as a tree, so large
that birds can nest in the shade of its branches. (Mark 4:216-34)
In this season of
gardens and fresh produce, we can appreciate Jesus’ imagery. We understand how satisfying it is when the
seeds we plant take root, thrive and grow, and especially when they produce the
flowers or vegetables or fruit that we’re hoping for. And when we apply that understanding to the
idea of the kingdom of God – we begin to see how we can affect the growth and vitality of that kingdom.
Bishop Rob and his
colleagues at Diocesan House define “Congregational and Mission Vitality” like
this:
“A vital
congregation is a place of joy, exploration, experimentation, and discovery of
what God is doing in the world. A vital
congregation is a place where apostolic ministry germinates and thrives; that
is, where our people are formed as
disciples and then are sent out
to join God’s mission of healing, joy and hope-bearing, peace-making, and
justice proclaiming.” (Diocese of NH 2016 Budget Narrative)
Once again we hear
the language of agriculture, of growing into what God calls us to be – and
discovering how fulfilling that process can be.
Our
service to others is not distant or removed. We make connections with the
people we serve; we learn their names and respect their dignity. And just as
the birds of the air can make their nests in the shade of a tree that grew from
a tiny mustard seed, people who come to St. Paul’s for support find a place of
welcome, encouragement, and relief. The
kingdom of God begins with simple things – like soil and seed, or food and
friendship – and it never ends with just one person. It is always growing, always expanding,
always welcoming more and more people into its boundless embrace.
As
this summer season begins, with all the new growth, all the reminders of God’s
abundance that surround us, what new seed of faith can we nurture in our
individual lives? And how much will it
have grown by summer’s end? How far will
its branches extend? How many other
lives will it touch and change?
No comments:
Post a Comment
All comments will be moderated prior to being added to the page. Thank you.