Scripture: Matthew13:31-33 (NRSV)
He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.’He told them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’
Reflection:
It seems so simple, doesn’t it? When we find the love of God, we are enriched beyond belief. And we must share that love. Storing up the mustard seeds means the trees will never grow. If we hoard the yeast, the bread cannot rise. It is our generosity that creates the blessing that allows love to flow freely and life to flourish.When I was a child, my great grandmother lived in the city. Every summer during the hottest days, my mother would drive into the city to pick her up and bring her to our house outside the city so she wouldn’t have to endure the intense heat. For me that was just normal behavior. So was helping her up and down the steps. Our Girl Scout troop always shared some meetings with a troop for disabled girls. There was nothing special about this. It was simply the base-line kindness that was what one did – as simple as a cup of cold water.
I have accompanied both my parents on their long, slow deterioration to death. But they had health insurance and we could provide for them not only love but also medical care.
And here we are as a nation, trying to remove 20 – 24 million people from the health care rolls because – well, I am not really sure why. I have heard the reasons, but they don’t add up. Who are we if we simply don’t care if people suffer and/or die because we do not want to help?
Prayer:
God of abundant grace and love, help us to see with Christ's eyes the wounds of the world and how we help to create them. Open our hearts that we may be healers who reflect your love into the world. In this time of political upheaval, open our hearts to your grace and guide us to be healers and whole-makers that your love may flow ever more freely through us into the world. AmenThe Rev. Dr. Mary Louise Howson is a retired UCC pastor.
the Rev. Mary Louise Howson Howson
Retired UCC pastor.
July 26, 2017