Ezekiel 17:22-24; Mark 4:26-34
(Ezekiel 17:22-24) Thus says the Lord GOD: I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of a cedar; I will set it out. I will break off a tender one from the topmost of its young twigs; I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain. {23} On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it, in order that it may produce boughs and bear fruit, and become a noble cedar. Under it every kind of bird will live; in the shade of its branches will nest winged creatures of every kind. {24} All the trees of the field shall know that I am the LORD. I bring low the high tree, I make high the low tree; I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I the LORD have spoken; I will accomplish it.
(Mark 4:26-34) He also said, "The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, {27} and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. {28} The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. {29} But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come." {30} He also said, "With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? {31} It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; {32} yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade." {33} With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; {34} he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples.
Washington Hawthorne tree in my front yard. Planted 5 years ago, struggled, half dead, making no progress. One year a new leader branch I’d tied up would take off, the next year it would die. Day-to-day progress was dismal. All I saw were the dead branches, the brown leaves, the pathetic looking shriveled tree.
But day-to-day I couldn’t see the changes. Day-to-day I saw sometimes more, sometimes less dead leaves. But over the years it was changing. There was growth, life, vitality in spite of what I saw. Looks great today. Tall, bright, healthy. Wonderful addition to front yard.
It’s my Kingdom of God tree. K/G =not heaven, but the reign of God: anytime and any place God’s will is done whether here on earth or in heaven. Regardless of what things may look like in your life or in the world, that Kingdom of God has come. In the person of Jesus Christ, God the Son, it is here. It is growing, it is taking root. And we can see glimpses of it all around. Maybe only mustard seed glimpses sometimes, but real glimpses nonetheless.
Fifteen people heading to the Gulf Coast next month – putting the needs of a devastated bunch of people ahead of their own coziness and wellbeing.
60+ people who were part of our VBS staff this week – giving up a week of evenings to swelter in the heat inside this building with 170 screaming, chaotic children. Because the message of life in Jesus is more important than their comfort.
Several members volunteer time at the Jeffco Action Center.
Others are active in Habitat for Humanity.
Still others sit with vulnerable families in hospital surgical waiting rooms.
Others are active in peace and justice groups.
More are involved with eliminating world hunger.
Some more take the side of those who have no voice in our society, in order to help them find resources and help to live.
There are others who compassionately listen to friends, offering care and support.
When you look for it, the presence of the reign of God is all around us.
A couple of weeks ago, on Pentecost, we answered some Kingdom of God questions. Those answers are posted on the wall. Take some time to see evidence from fellow worshipers of the presence and reality of the Kingdom of God.
The kingdom has come, the kingdom is growing. We don’t control it, nor do we even understand how it happens. But through eyes of faith we have a different perspective and we can see it. Make no mistake about it, in Jesus Christ the will of God is being accomplished more and more on this earth. The seeds are planted, the kingdom of God is growing. Eventually it will reach its fullness, the greatest of all shrubs, putting forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade. It is the guaranteed fulfillment of creation. You are invited by God to take part in that expansion. We have the biblical witness of what God’s will for creation is – of what the Kingdom looks like. And as we look, we can see where God is moving in our community and in our world.
In Christ we are given a new Kingdom life. By the power of the Holy Spirit we live that life unapologetically, right in the face of the world. Receiving and then showing forgiveness and mercy, we take part in what God is doing, we share in the work of the reign of God. God’s kingdom has come – and it is coming. As Martin Luther wrote in the Small Catechism, “God’s kingdom comes on its own without our prayer, but we ask in this prayer that it may also come to us.”
May it come, and may we be among those who point it out to the world, assuring them that the kingdom of God is for them too.