Dear Caldwell,
The Gospel of Matthew is chock-full of parables. In chapter 13 in particular, Jesus offers up one after the other, saying “The Kingdom of heaven is like …” this or that. Jesus’ parables always challenge us to look at the world and the Gospel in new ways, to learn and good news where we might least expect it.
I suppose I sound a little like a broken record in saying, again, that we are chin-deep these days in bad news – airplane crashes, civil wars, border debates, killing of innocents. If it takes a good parable to get us to see the world differently, to be reminded that God’s kingdom has taken root on earth in Christ and will overcome the world’s profound brokenness, then I welcome that news.
Look around you. Look at your own life and your own slice of the world. Take notice of things that you might otherwise overlook. Then, think about how you would finish the sentence “the kingdom of heaven is like ….”
Many days I am convinced that the kingdom of heaven is like what so many of you do in Christ’s name. This week that included turning out on short notice to light candles and pray for an undocumented father facing threat of deportation, despite living a life that makes our city better (pictured above-Charlotte Observer photo). Or, the kingdom of heaven might just be like a Summer Night at Caldwell, our own quirky version of an inter-generational, fun-loving vacation Bible school, where we can see the face of Christ in each other across all of our differences. Remember, there is another Summer Night event tonight, gathering at 5:30 and eating at 6:00. You don’t want to miss it.
Come Sunday, we will look at two “kingdom parables” in Matthew 13:31-33. In these verses, Jesus likens the kingdom to kudzu, that pernicious plant that is unstoppable once it gets rooted.
After the last few weeks in the world, I’ll even take kudzu as good news.
See you tonight or Sunday or soon otherwise.
In Christ,
John