Proper 12 – A
Matt 13:31-33,44-49
July 26, 2020
Mt Cross – St Columba
In the Name of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Intro
According to the great writer, Madeleine L’Engle “The only answer to the big question is in stories.”
And if you think about it, that’s true.
When someone asks a question about why something is the way it is, we say, “Let me tell you a story.”
The Bible is full of stories that explain why things are the way they are.
And, of course, Jesus was a MASTER STORYTELLER.
He taught by telling stories or parables: stories about life now and as it should be, stories about the extravagantly inclusive love of God, and stories about the Kingdom of Heaven.
Jesus’ parables have been defined as “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning”.
We’ve been hearing these parables over the last several Sundays, and today we have 5 parables all about the “Kingdom of Heaven”.
I. The Kingdom of Heaven
A. The first two of our parables are concerned with phenomenal results from seemingly insignificant beginnings.
1. As I mentioned in the CHILDREN’S SERMON, the Parable of the Mustard Seed is about a TINY SEED that starts out very small, but grows and grows, and no one knows where it will end.
2. And so too, the Kingdom of Heaven may start out in the smallest way and grow and grow and grow – until great and wonderful things happen.
3. We are also told that the Kingdom of Heaven is like Yeast or Leaven.
4. Like the Mustard Seed, the YEAST too starts off very small but does great things.
5. Yet, the point of this parable is the transformative power of the leaven.
6. By putting YEAST or LEAVEN in your dough you take a hard, dry, unappetizing blob and make it a soft, spongy tasty loaf.
7. Adding the LEAVEN causes a TRANSFORMATION in the dough;
– and the coming of the Kingdom of Heaven causes a TRANSFORMATION in our lives.
B. Now, some Scholars say that the lesson these parables have to teach is that the Kingdom works UNSEEN.
1. We cannot see the MUSTARD SEED growing in the dark of the ground – yet the work of the seed is always going on.
2. And the same is true of the Kingdom of Heaven; we can’t always see it at work, but the Kingdom is always working to bring people into a closer relationship with God.
3. Yet, others say it is the very opposite, that far from being unseen the work of the Kingdom of Heaven can be plainly seen.
4. Put the LEAVEN into the dough, and it changes the dough from a passive lump into a seething, bubbling, heaving mass.
– You can practically see the dough rise right before your eyes.
5. In the same way, the Kingdom of Heaven is an ACTIVE force at work for all to see.
6. And you know, in reality, both are true.
7. The Kingdom of Heaven is always working – and many a life has been radically changed – whether we see it or not.
8. Let me share with you another PARABLE that bears this out.
II. The Parable of Teddy Stoddard
A. There is a story many years ago of an elementary teacher. Her name was Mrs. Thompson.
1. As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of school, she told the children a lie.
2. Like most teachers, she looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same.
3. But that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stoddard.
4. Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he didn’t play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy and that he constantly needed a bath.
– And Mrs. Thompson didn’t like him.
5. It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X’s and then putting a big F at the top of his papers.
B. At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review each child’s past records and she put Teddy’s off until last.
1. However, when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
2. Teddy’s first grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is a bright child with a ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners…he is a joy to be around.”
3. His second grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is an excellent student, well-liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle.”
4. His third grade teacher wrote, “His mother’s death has been hard on him. He tries to do his best but his father doesn’t show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren’t taken.”
5. Teddy’s fourth grade teacher wrote, “Teddy is withdrawn and doesn’t show much interest in school. He doesn’t have many friends and sometimes sleeps in class.”
6. By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem, and she was ashamed of herself.
C. When Christmas came her students brought her Christmas presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for Teddy’s.
1. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper that he got from a grocery bag, tied up with string.
– And scribbled on it were the words, “For Mrs. Thompson from Teddy.”
2. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in the middle of the other presents.
3. Some of the children started to laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones missing and a bottle of perfume that was almost empty.
4. But she stifled the children’s laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the bracelet was, putting it on, and dabbing some of the perfume on her wrist.
5. At the end of the day, when all the children had left, Teddy lingered, and came over to her desk and said, “Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to.
– “And that bracelet, that’s her bracelet – it looks real nice on you, too. I’m really glad you like my presents.”
6. After he left, she cried for at least an hour. She got down on her knees and begged God to forgive her.
D. On that very day, she became a different teacher;
– she quit teaching reading, and writing, and arithmetic.
– Instead, she began to teach children.
1. Mrs. Thompson paid particular attention to Teddy.
2. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come alive.
– The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded.
3. By the end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the class and, despite her lie that she would love all the children the same, Teddy became one of her “teacher’s pets.”
E. A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
1. Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
2. Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while things had been tough at times, he’d stayed in school, had stuck with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of honors.
– He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had in his whole life.
3. Then four more years passed and yet another letter came.
– This time he explained that after he got his bachelor’s degree, he decided to go a little further.
– The letter explained that she was still the best and favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer. The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stoddard, M.D.
F. The story doesn’t end there.
1. You see, there was yet another letter that spring.
2. Teddy said he’d met this girl and was going to be married.
3. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit in the place at the wedding that was usually reserved for the mother of the groom.
4. Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what?
– She wore that bracelet, the one with several rhinestones missing.
– And she made sure she was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on their last Christmas together.
5. At the reception, they hugged each other, and Dr. Stoddard whispered in Mrs. Thompson’s ear, “Thank you, Mrs. Thompson, for believing in me. Thank you so much for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a difference.”
6. Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back, “Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I could make a difference. I didn’t know how to teach until I met you.”
PAUSE
Conclusion
A. You know my friends, we can never tell what type of impact we may make on another’s life by our actions or lack of action.
1. We may never know the difference we might make, just paying attention to someone else.
2. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a Mustard Seed – it starts off small but grows to tremendous heights – so can we.
3. The Kingdom of Heaven is like Yeast – it can infuse God’s love into all that it comes into contact with – so can we.
4. Such is the EXTRAVAGENT, INCLUSIVE, Love of God given for all.
5. It comes to us with just one CATCH – we have to share it.
B. We are like LEAVEN – we have an effect on everything and everyone we come into contact with.
1. We are not to sit – like a lifeless blob of dough – we are to rise and bubble with the love of God in our hearts to share.
2. Even in this time of “safe at home” and “wear your mask” we can still project God’s love to those we come into contact with.
3. Stuck at home – think of someone you miss and give them a call.
– Set up a regular time – have a cup of coffee – and just chat and share – and the Kingdom of God will grow.
4. That’s the point of those other Kingdom parables – how very special the Kingdom of God is.
5. It is so wonderful that we can only want to share it so that others may experience the love of God and in turn share it with those they meet as well.
Let Us Pray
Almighty and eternal God: so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so direct our wills, that we may be wholly your, utterly dedicated to you; and then use us, we pray, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. AMEN. (BCP p. 832)