The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat

[Betty]

This week has been filled with something that always brings me back to a level of reality that I need to be dragged back to occasionally,...   Vacation Bible School.
The simplicity, ... the excitement... the rambunctiousness... the honesty... the curiosity... the ....
I could go on and on about the many things that youngsters can teach us.

Yes it happened this week for 3 days in Hastings.
We had (depending on the day) 12-16 young people from preschool to later public school, 4-6 teenaged helpers, and 6 adult helpers.
 
And we had great fun in learning.
 
We explored native spirituality, through a program called, "Children of the Dancing Sun" an aboriginal created resource that helps young people (and adults too) to learn about our first nations brothers and sisters.
We did some singing, some eating, some crafts, some eating, some storytelling, some eating, some praying, and did I mention some eating as well.
 
Thanks to all the helpers.
 
This week's gospel reading continues along the theme of growing.  (Matthew 13:24-43)
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

The Parable of Weeds among the Wheat

24 He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27 And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?” 28 He answered, “An enemy has done this.” The slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” 29 But he replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30 Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’

Jesus Explains the Parable of the Weeds

36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, ‘Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.’ 37 He answered, ‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42 and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears* listen!

Weeds and Good Seed.
All right I want to know who has been planting weeds in my gardens.
They would look so much nicer if someone hadn't done that.
 
Now before you all laugh and fall off your computing chair, or
You say "Ya! who planted the weeds in my garden too?"
REMEMBER, this is allegory.
 
It is what? 
ALLEGORY
Webster's definition:
1: the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions, of truths or generalizations about human existence;
2: a symbolic representation
 
Our world, our society is filled with weeds and good plants.
We have to learn, (and I think most of us do) to live with that fact of life, to be
tolerant of the weeds, to let them be alone to grow weedier for a time, to tell them sometimes, that they have to change their "weedy" attitude if they want to grow up as weeds, along with us weeds in this garden, and that eventually we have to leave everything up to God.
 
That means, that God will be the weed puller some day.
 
My prayer:  "Come Lord God, and pull the weeds out of my garden today"  Amen.
I mean literally, "pull them out", I haven't got the time to do it.
That way, I can take the time, to learn to live with the weeds around me, in my life.
I think that's what God, through Jesus, in this parable wants us to do.
 
Weeds... "Just can't get rid of them!"
Come hear more on Sunday, if you want to and can.
You are sure welcome.
 
 
Friday, at Roseneath, the church will be hosting the "Bikers for Bibles" for lunch.
A bike group going from Stirling to Millbrook to raise funds for the Canadian Bible Society.
Come out and cheer them on if you can.
 
Also, on Sunday we will be celebrating the sacrament of Holy Communion.
Come have your hunger and thirst quenched, supping at the Lord's Table.
 
Keep cool,
God bless,
Rev Jamie