Mark 4:26-34
Jesus today gives us the parables of the kingdom of God is like. This one which begins it is one we never hear in any other gospel. It's about scattering seed, not where it lands, or how it is received just seed scattered and it grows. Now this leaves us scratching our heads because surely there is something to do, right? We can't just scatter and believe it will do anything. How do we let it alone? What form is it supposed to take to grow? And isn't this the point Jesus is trying to make. So often we feel as though we have to shape people's belief or unbelted. We always think there is something to do.
Take in our tradition the fact we are a liturgical church. This means there is a way the service goes, a form to it and people know what to expect during certain seasons. They also feel in order to participate they want to know, know exactly what everything means. Liturgy though is like scattering seeds. Sure there are ways our service has meaning, but maybe today you aren't in the same place you were a year ago or maybe five years ago. What stands out today may not have meaning for you in another year or five. It doesn't mean it's not fruitful to give some explanation it just means we are already meaning making just going through it. Understanding all of it at once is like trying to plant one seed in all the same hole. There will be things you pick up on, but there will be things you miss too.
So lets scatter the seeds wider. We begin our service in ordinary time with blessing God and God's kingdom. It changes each season, sometimes the theme of blessing changes, sometimes it is an opening of praise. If you listen to the words you can see the focus. Ordinary time is our longest season though. If we open by blessing God and God's kingdom what is our focus to be? On God, we are ushering ourselves out of the world as it is and into God's world. The two are different and they do have different a focus rather than the worlds focus. For this time this should be our focus.
Then we go to the collect, the collect for purity. Just try making meaning out of all that is said in this one prayer. "Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen." What seeds are being scattered here? What stands out to you? The purpose of this is to collect ourselves to go into worship. Yet when I look at this prayer there is so much more that is being said. What if our hearts aren't open today? What are we saying about our hearts, we can't hide them away, can we? We can't shut our heart to God? What have we desired this week? What secrets do we have that we want no one to know? God knows, not because God is intrusive, but because we are fully known.
See the scriptures open this before us in the story of the woman at the well in John where Jesus tells the Samaritan woman everything she's ever done. Or in all of Moses objections to being called because God knows Moses will do this and God already has all the answers to the objections. There are so many different ones we could go through. Being fully known has value too. It means we are loved and known. Jesus displays this with the woman at the well or also in John the woman caught in adultery. God picks unlikely people whom he loves, Jacob who lies and cheats to get what he wants until he wrestles with God and comes out limping.
See we're only halfway through the seed scattering. Understanding the liturgy best is asking questions after worship. What stood out to me today? Why did this particular thing stand out? What does this mean to me and my life right now? It's another intentional practice and it is of value because what stands out to us at any given time has meaning uniquely for us. This is why the liturgy is seed scattering, you will hear one thing your husband, wife, child neighbor will hear something quite different. The only way to see what seed is growing is to begin to ask these questions.
Liturgy is not something to understand all at once. This does not mean it's impossible, but it is seed scattered and what will grow in you is different and uniquely yours. This is how growing in Christ is. It is our own unique journey, there is nothing to do except take the time to notice what has grown in you.
Jesus today gives us the parables of the kingdom of God is like. This one which begins it is one we never hear in any other gospel. It's about scattering seed, not where it lands, or how it is received just seed scattered and it grows. Now this leaves us scratching our heads because surely there is something to do, right? We can't just scatter and believe it will do anything. How do we let it alone? What form is it supposed to take to grow? And isn't this the point Jesus is trying to make. So often we feel as though we have to shape people's belief or unbelted. We always think there is something to do.
Take in our tradition the fact we are a liturgical church. This means there is a way the service goes, a form to it and people know what to expect during certain seasons. They also feel in order to participate they want to know, know exactly what everything means. Liturgy though is like scattering seeds. Sure there are ways our service has meaning, but maybe today you aren't in the same place you were a year ago or maybe five years ago. What stands out today may not have meaning for you in another year or five. It doesn't mean it's not fruitful to give some explanation it just means we are already meaning making just going through it. Understanding all of it at once is like trying to plant one seed in all the same hole. There will be things you pick up on, but there will be things you miss too.
So lets scatter the seeds wider. We begin our service in ordinary time with blessing God and God's kingdom. It changes each season, sometimes the theme of blessing changes, sometimes it is an opening of praise. If you listen to the words you can see the focus. Ordinary time is our longest season though. If we open by blessing God and God's kingdom what is our focus to be? On God, we are ushering ourselves out of the world as it is and into God's world. The two are different and they do have different a focus rather than the worlds focus. For this time this should be our focus.
Then we go to the collect, the collect for purity. Just try making meaning out of all that is said in this one prayer. "Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ our Lord. Amen." What seeds are being scattered here? What stands out to you? The purpose of this is to collect ourselves to go into worship. Yet when I look at this prayer there is so much more that is being said. What if our hearts aren't open today? What are we saying about our hearts, we can't hide them away, can we? We can't shut our heart to God? What have we desired this week? What secrets do we have that we want no one to know? God knows, not because God is intrusive, but because we are fully known.
See the scriptures open this before us in the story of the woman at the well in John where Jesus tells the Samaritan woman everything she's ever done. Or in all of Moses objections to being called because God knows Moses will do this and God already has all the answers to the objections. There are so many different ones we could go through. Being fully known has value too. It means we are loved and known. Jesus displays this with the woman at the well or also in John the woman caught in adultery. God picks unlikely people whom he loves, Jacob who lies and cheats to get what he wants until he wrestles with God and comes out limping.
See we're only halfway through the seed scattering. Understanding the liturgy best is asking questions after worship. What stood out to me today? Why did this particular thing stand out? What does this mean to me and my life right now? It's another intentional practice and it is of value because what stands out to us at any given time has meaning uniquely for us. This is why the liturgy is seed scattering, you will hear one thing your husband, wife, child neighbor will hear something quite different. The only way to see what seed is growing is to begin to ask these questions.
Liturgy is not something to understand all at once. This does not mean it's impossible, but it is seed scattered and what will grow in you is different and uniquely yours. This is how growing in Christ is. It is our own unique journey, there is nothing to do except take the time to notice what has grown in you.
Comments
Post a Comment