Thought for the Day – Sunday 26th July
‘Then the disciples came and
asked him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” He answered, “To you it
has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has
not been given. For to those who have, more will be given, and they will
have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be
taken away. The reason I speak to them in parables is that ‘seeing they do
not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.
With them indeed is fulfilled the
prophecy of Isaiah that says:
‘You will indeed listen, but
never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. For this
people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they
have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen
with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn - and I would
heal them.’
But blessed are your eyes, for
they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly I tell you, many prophets
and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not see it, and to
hear what you hear, but did not hear it.’ (Matthew 13: 10-17)
There is a saying which says ‘much of what you see depends on what you
are looking for’ and I think that is generally true!
Often we fail to see something that is staring us right in the face
either because we have actually closed ourselves off to the possibility of
seeing it or because we have become too preoccupied with something else.
Jesus was aware of this problem within us and that’s why he told parables!
He told the people stories with images familiar to their daily life in
order to try and break through any preconceptions they might have so that they
might see the world in a new way and shed new light upon their world.
When it comes to us today I think we sometimes need things spelt out in
parables too – especially when trying to understand complex thinking like the
kingdom of heaven. All too easily we seem to consign that kingdom to some far
off place and time and certainly the coming together of God’s purpose must come
later. However, actually what Jesus was trying to tell folks here, and in truth
right from the very start of his ministry, was that the time had come, prophecy
was being fulfilled in him and the kingdom of heaven had already dawned – if
only we had eyes to see it!
Like a seed a sower sows, the kingdom is slow growing but it is here and
it is evidenced in the countless lives which are being changed every day and in
all those expressions of love and service and in the work and worship of the
church and in so many other ways – if only we had eyes to see it!
Yet, so often we fail to even identify these things as evidence of the
kingdom of heaven, we fail to even recognise the kingdom of heaven could be
here already because of our own preconceptions of what the kingdom of heaven is
like and where it is and because of our preoccupations which then blind us to
the presence of the kingdom of heaven all around us.
Yes, we need to look to the future and keep praying for the kingdom to
come, but we also need to see that the seeds of that kingdom have already been
sown all around us and it is part of our work as a Christian to notice those
seeds and then nurture those seeds Jesus has sown and do everything in our
power, by his grace, to ensure that those seeds grow bringing the kingdom of
heaven ever closer here on earth.
We have God blessed eyes, we have God blessed ears so let’s use them and
grow God’s Kingdom.
Prayer
Loving Lord,
In every time and season, you are teaching us more about ourselves and
about you. May we always be open to discovering new ways of seeing and new ways
of serving you, Lord of all the ages. You know and embrace the ordinary times
and the extraordinary times and what is more, you lead us through whatever we
face. Lord, in the midst of chaos and fear, may we see you quietly at work and
calling us to follow. May we lighten one
another’s burden however we can: by connecting, by listening, by being the
neighbours you invite us to be. May we bear one another’s burdens and share one
another’s grief and, in time, may we rejoice together in your love. Lord, we
may not know the way ahead, but we do know that you are with us and will never
leave us. May that assurance help us to face all that we must face, and
strengthen us to continue to step out in faith, holding the Christ light for
one another, knowing that you are with us and you go before us always. In
Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Hymn
Some words from our Church Hymnary 524 by John Bell:
Lord in all we do today,
let our lives prepare your way.
May peace and love befriend us
and defend us
where you require and send us.
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