Pentecost Two - June 18, 2006        

     Discovering too late that a watermelon spiked with Vodka had accidentally been served to the luncheon meeting of the local Ministerial Association, the restaurant owner waited nervously for the waiters to return to the kitchen.

     “Quick,” he whispered to one of the waiters, “what did they say?”

     “Nothing,” said the waiter.  “They were all too busy slipping the seeds into their pockets.”

     That joke might not go over anywhere except in an Episcopal Church.

      Have you ever noticed how many times Jesus used illustration, examples from the natural world to explain spiritual truths?  Perhaps like no one before or after, he was tuned in to the relationship between human beings and the earth.  We may have moved so far from understanding that interconnected relationship and now find ourselves standing on the brink of disaster from our callous disregard for the natural environment.  We can’t even believe Christian environmentalists or agnostic scientists who gently tell us that global warming is a fact.  Ice caps melt, oceans rise, storms intensify, and we continue to build multi-million dollar homes along the coasts.  But, sadly, some folks now feel that bringing up such a subject is political, so I won’t.

     Jesus talked about the similarity between nature and the coming of the Kingdom.  In our post-agrarian, technological age we have little use for seeing the need to understand the ecological balance so necessary for life and we ignore the fact that there will be those who must live in this world long after we are gone.

     The problem is illustrated by the true story of a developer who bought a large chunk of land that included a beautiful mountain.  He bulldozed off the top of the mountain, built a large lodge, removed all the trees on one side so the lodge could be seen from below, and terraced the other side in order to put in a swimming pool and tennis courts.  The brochure sent out to advertise this place said, “Isn’t nature grand?”  Yes, kind of like walking on the seashore in front of one high rise after the other.

     So, what are the parallel truths about the natural world and the coming of the Kingdom?  The first is that growth is often imperceptible.  It is difficult to see a plant grow.  The best way to see the growth is not to stand over it and become discouraged and conclude that nothing is happening.  It is only when we step back, go about our God-given tasks, allow some time to elapse, and then look that we notice the growth.  So it is with the Kingdom of God.

     Compare today, not with yesterday, but the last century and we may see that ever so slightly the Kingdom is growing in certain areas.  People cannot own other people legally any more.  Where that continues to be the case, the Church and people of decency must stand up, condemn the practice, hold those accountable who do such things, and work diligently to defeat such a horrific affront to the God-given sanctity of every human being.  Women can vote today, hold office, perhaps even the highest office in this land, and continue to ask for equal pay for equal work.  In most parts of the world children do not have to work sixteen hours a day in sweat shops and cannot be physically abused.  Where that continues to be the case, the Church and people of decency must stand up, condemn the practice, hold those accountable who do such things, and work diligently to defeat such a horrific affront to the God-given sanctity of every human being, especially the most vulnerable ones.  People still suffer from discrimination because of color, sex, creed, culture, and religion.  Where that continues to be the case, the Church and people of decency must stand up, condemn the practice, hold those accountable who do such things, and work diligently to defeat such a horrific affront to the God-given sanctity of every human being.  Sexual abuse remains a gigantic problem that demands our commitment to end it.  The Church and people of decency must stand against a popular culture that very often treats people as less than equals primarily because of physical strength and some perverse attitude that sees people as objects and not as equal human beings.

     The point is that we are on the right track and we stunt and add roadblocks to the advancing Kingdom when we undo some of the progress that has been made.  We are at least aware of some of the problems and are beginning to learn how to address them.  Ever so slightly, we see some growth toward a new sanctity of life, ever so imperceptibly we see people standing up for life and wholeness and love.

     The second parallel truth about the natural world and the coming of the Kingdom is that growth is constant.  Night and day the seed seeks to fulfill an internal destiny.  Growth goes on.  The seed seeks to become what it was intended to be.  There is nothing spasmodic about God.  We sometimes are guilty of that.  We take two steps forward and the next day take a step backward.  But, the point is that we are making a little spiritual progress.  And the work of God goes on.  Little by little God works in us, it others, to bring the Kingdom to earth as it exists perfectly in heaven.  Day after day God wins a little victory as a person gives mind, soul, and will to him.  One new seed is added to the win column and God gives a smile and shakes his fist as the devil.  Growth is constant.

     Finally, growth is inevitable.  Few things are as powerful as growth.  A tree sends forth roots that break concrete and asphalt.  Septic systems can be disrupted, as some of you have found out.  Little blades of grass can play havoc with sidewalks.  The power comes from the inevitable, inherent need for the seed to reach the potential contain within it.  Except for an outside force of hoe or weed killer, the seed grows and nothing can stop it.  So it is with the Kingdom.  We pray every week, hopefully every day, “Thy Kingdom come, they will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”  We are simply stating an inevitable fact.  The Kingdom will come and whether we are ready of not is beside the point.  It is God’s Kingdom, not ours.  God help us be ready for that Kingdom.

     The Good News today is that in spite of our rebellion, our disobedience, our wrong-headedness, God’s work goes on and nothing in the end can stop it, for nothing in this world can stop the purposes of God.

     Learn from the parables of Jesus, especially those that deal with nature.  Parables like the Mustard seed show us that growth is imperceptible, growth is constant, and growth is inevitable.  And God is working his purpose out as year succeeds to year.  Amen.