Puzzling Parables 13 June 2021 Knox Bayfield Rev Dolson
The Lord be with you … and also with you. Welcome to worship at Knox Presbyterian Bayfield. The people of Knox Bayfield acknowledge that we worship, live, play, and work on the traditional lands of the Anishinabewaki, Attiwonderonk (Neutral), and Mississauga peoples within Treaty 29, of 1827.
Hymn #588 A prophet woman broke a jar
Call to Worship Psalm 92
It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praise to God Most High; to declare God’s steadfast love in the morning through to God’s faithfulness at nighttime. Those who are planted in the God’s creation will flourish. No matter their age, they bear fruit and remain lush and fresh, proclaiming – God is righteous! God is my rock!
Hymn# 675 Precious Lord take my hand
Assurance of Pardon
2 Corinthians 5, Mark 4
God will not count our trespasses against us, longing instead for us to be reconciled. We come before God in honesty, humility, and hope.
Join with me in prayer…
Gracious God, we often miss your Spirit at work among us. Captivated by power and prestige, we overlook the mustard seeds you have planted all around. Forgive us for failing to notice where and how you are at work. Forgive us when we work against your plans and purposes— fostering divisions when you have called us to a ministry of reconciliation; beset by apathy when the world has such deep needs; building walls to keep people out when your branches offer generous nests.
Help us to grow in faithfulness, we pray, so that we might reach our fullest height of faith. In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
We who walk by faith and not by sight believe the good news— If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything
has become new! Praise be to God for the mercy and grace that forgives our sins.
May the peace of Jesus Christ be with you. And also with you.
Prayer For Illumination
Holy Spirit, by your mysterious power speak to us your truth and show us your wisdom, that we may know you more deeply and serve you more faithfully, for the sake of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Readings
1 Samuel 15:34-16:13, Psalm 20, 2 Corinthians 5:6-17; Mark 4:26-34
May God bless our understanding of this, God’s holy word. The Word of the Lord.
Hymn # 348 Tell me the stories of Jesus
Puzzling Parables
There are important issues that are deliberated within our church and within our relationships in which we seek to discern God’s influence. Our faithful reading of scriptures help us to better understand how God is at work in our lives. Parables capture our imagination and help us to see what initially is not apparent. It may take a few moments or a lifetime of reflection to discern the message. In our reading today, we discover that some may not be able to hear the message. The parables can be puzzling.
Some of you may be aware that I was recently in quarantine. In May I travelled into Michigan to collect my son from college. While we quarantined together we enjoyed puzzles and playing scrabble and chess. It was good to spend time with him. I was prepared with lots of food and some chores for him to help with. He was able to effortlessly move heavy boxes from the main floor to the basement. Our time spent on games and puzzles allowed us to reconnect and it seemed to help us make sense of the directions in assembling new bookcases. The directions were much clearer after we had assembled one of the cabinets. Initially it was puzzling.
Did you know that there has been an increased interest in jigsaws and other puzzles during the pandemic? Marcel Danesi, a professor of semiotics – the study of signs and symbols – at the University of Toronto, has written a book on puzzles. During a recent interview[1] on the surging popularity of puzzles, Danesi noted, “There is always a sense of chaos within us, due probably to the fact that life is so unpredictable. Life is a puzzle with no answers. Puzzles do have answers and reaching them provides a kind of instant and temporary relief from the angst. They restore order to the chaos in our minds. Henry Dudeney, a great puzzle-maker, put it this way: “Every good puzzle, like virtue, is its own reward.” Danesi explained that when you concentrate on doing a puzzle it can provide a temporary retreat from the problems of the world. Studies indicate that puzzles may contribute to increased cognitive functioning and more effective regulation of distressing emotions.[2] Puzzles, it seems, serve an important purpose in our lives. We often don’t see how different pieces of life fit together until we can look back from a different perspective.
Samuel may not have realized how the pieces of his life fit together. He was a prophet and a judge who was called to seek the first and then the second king. In today’s reading he was grieving the coming loss of King Saul who had disobeyed God’s command. God told the grieving Samuel to travel to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse’s sons as the new king. Perhaps this interaction teaches that God meets us in our brokenness. Perhaps Samuel has been grieving for some time and God is pulling him into the present situation where he is needed.
When Samuel met with Eliab he thinks he may have found the one selected by God. Six of seven sons are considered but none are chosen. It would be the youngest, the shepherd, the one least expected. The next king of Israel would be Jesse’s son David.
This passage reminds us that God calls unlikely people to service and empowers them to accomplish that to which they are called. God doesn’t call the qualified, God qualifies the called. God will walk with David, as God walked with Samuel, as God promises to walk with us … correcting us, forgiving us, protecting us, and directing us to see what God sees. There are many examples of unlikely leaders chosen by God. Moses, the reluctant prophet, Jacob who received Esau’s blessing, Joseph the powerful ruler over his brothers. Many church leaders and ministers have doubted their abilities when they sensed God’s call. Yet, God chooses whom God chooses. The choosing and giving of the Spirit are not our actions, but God’s. But why this young David? God’s criteria are not human criteria: “the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart”.
God selected and empowered David with his Spirit. The reader will discover that although David was flawed and his reign was complicated, he remained connected to God’s Spirit. He has been described as Israel’s greatest king.
We often puzzle over the scriptures. Doesn’t it seem that life is much easier when a simple explanation is provided. Perhaps, in yearning for simplicity, we miss pieces of the story. Life is complex, people are complicated. We discover the story from different perspectives to best understand. In some ways, it is like a recipe. The ingredients are only part of the recipe. It is helpful to understand the reasoning that underlies the process. This brings to mind the new cookbook that Deb Cosford is compiling as a fundraiser. She is almost finished gathering recipes so please send yours into her as soon as possible. Remember to include interesting anecdotes with your recipes. I’m thinking of the story about the teen watching her mother prepare a ham and cutting off the ends before placing it in the oven.
“Mom, why do you cut the ends?” she asked. The mother paused, then said, “I think it helps soak up the juices while it’s baking. That’s the way your grandma always did it, so I’ve always cut them off. Why don’t you call grandma and ask her?”
So, the teen got on the phone and asked “Grandma, Mom is making a ham and cut off the ends before putting it in the oven. She said that it helps to soak up the juices. She said you’d know why because she learned how to cook from you.”
“I do cut off the ends of the ham before baking but I’m not sure why. I learned how to cook from my Mom. You should ask her.”
So, the inquisitive teen called her great Grandmother and asked “Great Grandma, mom and grandma said they learned how to cook a ham from watching you. Do you cut off the ends off the ham to help it soak up the juices?”
The Great Grandmother chuckled. “Oh, no sweetie. I just never had a pan big enough to hold a whole ham, so I always had to cut off the ends to make it fit.”
Sometimes we continue a pattern without understanding the reasoning behind it. Parables are puzzling. They capture our imagination and help us to see what is not apparent. The passage in Mark concludes with, “With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it.” I read it a few times because it kept drawing my attention. As they were able to hear it … How often do we miss important information because we do not understand what we have heard? How often do we not understand because we were not fully listening? Sometimes we are too distracted. There are many reasons why we don’t hear or comprehend the message. Perhaps the message conflicts with our existing way of seeing the world. So we ignore it. Or, worse, we become antagonistic with it. We are comprised of body, mind, and spirit. In seeking to find balance within, we can be more open to God’s Spirit.
This passage contains 2 descriptions of God’s kingdom yet the one most referenced is the mustard seed. Do you recall the first parable?
…He also said, “The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.”
The seed is scattered and somehow it grows. When the grain is ripe, he harvests. How is it that we enjoy the fruits of God’s creation and forget to recognize God’s part in producing the fruit? We discover deep layers within this living text. The first parable draws the image of the kingdom of God. People are like a sleeping gardener who slept through the growing season but wakes up in time for the harvest. Jesus builds on this first parable with a second story about mustard seed. Though this seed is among the smallest of seeds it will grow into a bush so large and lush that birds can make nests in its shade.
Just as God provides for the birds, God provides for humanity. How is it that we doubt that God will provide? The passage ends by saying that Jesus spoke the word only in parables to the crowd, “as they were able to hear it.” Jesus describes God’s kingdom with short, provocative stories that help us to shift with our imaginations. The parables help us to experience a shift in the way we see ourselves, see God, and see one another. Sometimes the shift is tiny. Sometimes it is our entire worldview that shifts.
Like the tiny mustard seed, the parables allow us to grow in significant ways. Our imaginations are stirred in new and wondrous and confusing ways. The image of the seed is repeated in the gospels of Mark and John, in the book of Ezekiel, and Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. The parable of the scattered seed helps us to see that God’s kingdom includes the mystery of God’s grace. We are encouraged to keep our imaginations open to the mysteries that seem to sit just beyond our grasp. Puzzles may be easy to solve because we can see the entire picture along with the puzzle pieces. The scriptures provide a way to see the world through God’s eyes.
The symbol of life growing out of a tiny seed that seems to be dead. Even with insignificant beginnings, God creates a mighty wind that will blow throughout the entire world. In the parables, Jesus invites us from every age and every place to join in this new way of being in the world.
Peace be with you.
Hymn # 807 We plough the fields
The Offering Of Our Life And Labour To The Lord
Quote: I don’t care too much for money, money can’t buy me love. The Beatles
God has provided us with all that we need. It is our privilege to give back to God.
Let us return a portion of what God has so freely given to us. Let us now humbly bring our gifts to the Lord.
Blessing Of Gifts & Prayers Of The People
Join me in prayer:
Generous loving God, who created all things and promises us an eternal realm, hear our prayers of intercession, spoken and unspoken. We pray for peace. Eternal God, you sent Jesus Christ to break down the walls of hostility that divide us. Guide us to develop peace in places where greed, pride, and anger turn nation against nation, race against race, church against church.
We pray for the leaders of the church and the nations. God, guide the leaders of the church and the leaders of nations to your vision of creation. May they may lead with justice and goodwill.
We pray for the earth, God’s creation. God of creation, you made all things in your wisdom and love. Grant us all a reverence for the earth that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others and to your honor and glory.
Bless, O God, the gifts that we bring this day, that they may be a sign of our commitment to your kingdom and a pledge of our love for you and your world.
Multiply the work done by our time, treasures, and talents, that your presence and compassion may be known in all the earth.
We pray for those who are in pain in body and mind. Merciful God, you bear the pain of the world. Look with compassion on those who are sick. Stand with those who sorrow. Show them hope by your Word; bring healing as a sign of your grace. We pray for the Muslim community as they mourn. God of love and grace, help us to speak out against racism, anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, gender-based violence, homophobia, and transphobia.
Let us pray for friends and families. God of love, in drawing us close to you may we learn to draw closer to each other. There are many within our church family in need of your special care at this time. We lift up Ron, Sandy, Rudy, Bonnie, Rob, Courtney and Kyla. We lift up all those who prefer to remain un-named as they face immense challenges of health and finances.
O holy One, we desire to hear your voice of love, to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and to see you clearly. By your Spirit who breathes within us, strengthen our faith, use our gifts, and work in our lives to bear witness to Christ who taught his disciples to pray, …Our Father who art in heaven, hallow’ed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Hymn #689 Simply trusting everyday
Benediction 2 Corinthians 5
Be reconciled to God through Christ and join in the ministry of reconciliation, for the sake of the world. May God bless you with new life, Christ tend you in grace,
and the Holy Spirit guide your steps, as you walk by faith, now and forever.
Postlude #623 Holy, holy, holy
Questions for Reflection
How can you practice walking by faith and not by sight?
The passage from 2 Corinthians urges us to be reconciled, to engage in the ministry of reconciliation, and to be ambassadors for Christ. How can you join in a ministry of reconciliation as an ambassador of Christ?
Morning Prayer
New every morning are your mercies, Lord. And new also is this day, full of promise and possibility. Give me eyes to see your new creation that is already
coming into being, even as I come and go among familiar places. I pray that you will help me to see others not from a human point of view, but to see them through your eyes of love, grace, and second chances. I will try to walk by faith and not by sight alone. And I will look for ways that I can be a part of Christ’s ministry of reconciliation. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Evening Prayer
Gracious God, It is good to declare your steadfast love in the morning and your faithfulness by night. For all the ways you loved me through the day that is past, I give you thanks. For your faithful watching over me tonight, I also give thanks. Like a bird asleep in its nest, secure on a sturdy branch, I—and all the world—rest in your wide embrace. Despite all evidence to the contrary, headlined in the news of this day, I trust that your kingdom is growing; that all of us are becoming a new creation through the grace of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Daily Prayer
God, you are the gardener of all creation. You plant this world with the seeds of your love and grow them with your faithfulness. We are your harvest; we find our meaning and sustenance in you. May our minds listen to you calling, may our hearts be attuned to your will, may our feet follow you in the world, through Jesus, the Word become flesh. Amen.
Scripture readings next week
4th Sunday after Pentecost – National Indigenous Peoples Sunday
1 Samuel 17:1-49 and Psalm 9:9-20, 2 Corinthians 6:1-13; Mark 4:35-41
623 Holy, holy, holy Words: traditional Music: F Schubert
Refrain: Holy, holy, holy, God almighty Lord!
Holy, holy, holy, everywhere adored!
God without beginning, God eternal One
reigns and rules forever all beneath the sun Refrain
Power and love and wonder circling round God’s throne
Praise our God most holy, Lord of Life alone Refrain
Hymn # 588 A prophet woman broke a jar
A prophet-woman broke a jar by Love’s divine appointing.
With rare perfume she filled the room presiding and anointing.
A prophet-woman broke a jar, the sneers of scorn defying.
With rare perfume she filled the room, preparing Christ for dying.
A faithful woman left a tomb by love’s divine commission.
She saw, she heard, she preached the Word, arising from submission.
A faithful woman left a tomb, with resurrection gospel;
she saw, she heard, she preached the Word, apostle to apostles.
Though woman-wisdom, woman-truth, for centuries were hidden,
unsung, unwritten and unheard, derided and forbidden,
the Spirit’s breath, the Spirit’s fire, on free and slave descending,
can tumble our dividing walls, our shame and sadness mending.
The Spirit knows, the Spirit calls, by Love’s divine ordaining,
the friends we need, to serve and lead, their powers and gifts unchanging.
The Spirit knows, the Spirit calls, from women, men and children,
the friends we need, to serve and lead. Rejoice, and make them welcome!
348 Tell me the stories of Jesus
Tell me the stories of Jesus I love to hear, things I would ask him to tell me
If he were here: scenes by the wayside, tales of the sea, stories of Jesus, tell them to me.
First, let me hear how the children stood round his knee, and I shall fancy his blessing resting on me: words full of kindness, deeds full of grace, all in the lovelight of Jesus’ face.
Tell me about the disciples from far and near, and I will listen among them eager to hear. Whose loaves and fishes did Jesus bless, showing the people God’s tenderness?
Tell me, in accents of wonder, how rolled the sea, tossing the boat in a tempest on Galilee, and how the Master, ready and kind, chided the billows and hushed the wind.
Into the city I’d follow the children’s band, waving a branch of the palm tree
high in my hand; one of his heralds, yes, I would sing loudest hosannas: Jesus is King!
675 Precious Lord take my hand
Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand;
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn; through the storm, through the night,
lead me on to the light: take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
When my way grows drear, precious Lord, linger near;
when my life is almost gone, hear my cry, hear my call;
hold my hand lest I fall: take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
When the darkness appears and the night draws near,
and the day is past and gone, at the river I stand,
guide my feet, hold my hand: take my hand, precious Lord, lead me home.
689 Simply trusting everyday
Simply trusting every day, trusting through a stormy way, even when my faith is small, trusting Jesus, that is all.
Refrain: Trusting as the moments fly, trusting as the days go by,
trusting Him whate’er befall, trusting Jesus, that is all.
Brightly doth his Spirit shine into this poor heart of mine;
while he leads I cannot fall, trusting Jesus, that is all.
Singing if my way be clear, praying, if the path be drear,
if in danger for him call, trusting Jesus, that is all.
Trusting him while life shall last, trusting him till earth be past,
till within the jasper wall, trusting Jesus, that is all.
807 We plough the fields
We plough the fields and scatter the good seed on the land
But it is fed and watered by God’s almighty hand
You send the snow in winter, the warmth to swell the grain, the breezes and the sunshine, and soft refreshing rain.
Refrain: All good gifts around us are sent from heaven above
We thank you, Lord, we thank you, Lord for all your love
You only are the Maker of all things near and far
You paint the wayside flower, you light the evening star
The winds and waves obey you; by you the birds are fed much more to us, your children, you give our daily bread.
We thank you, our provider, for all things bright and good
The seedtime and the harvest, our life, our health, our food.
No gifts have we to offer for all your love imparts but that which you most welcome: our humble, thankful hearts.
[1] https://www.utoronto.ca/news/order-amid-chaos-u-t-researcher-why-puzzles-became-popular-pandemic-pastime
[2] https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/aging-neuroscience#articles October 2018 Volume 10 Article 299