The Wheat and the Tares and

Jacob’s Ladder

 

 

10Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. 12And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And the LORD stood beside him and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; 14and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. 15Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 16Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place — and I did not know it!” 17And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

18So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19aHe called that place Bethel;

Genesis 28:10-19a

 

Jacob’s Dream

BLAKE, William

1805

Pen and ink and watercolor

British Museum

London

England

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blake_jacobsladder.jpg

 

Blake is arguably the first artist to have chosen a spiral staircase to visualize Genesis 28 (starting a visual tradition of artistic responses). His painting flows weightlessly and the figures on the stairway are rendered in ever-diminishing detail as they ascend. His stairway leads into the heart of the sun itself, filling the image with light. Like a lighthouse (a building often housing a spiral staircase; Cook 1914: 308), this image acts as a beacon of God’s promises and a sign of the safety offered to Jacob and his descendants. A sense of harmony is evoked as people embrace on the stairs; the vision is inviting.

https://thevcs.org/jacobs-ladder/spiralling-under-control

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are only two kinds of [people]:

the righteous who believe they are sinners,

the sinners who believe they are righteous.

~ Blaise Pascal

 

 

 

 

Be careful lest in fighting the dragon,

you become the dragon.

~ Friedrich Nietzsche

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you, Suzanne!

 

NO! NO! NO!

 

Alas.

 

Down to the nubs.

 

BUT … this adorable video of gamboling elk babies put a smile back on my face!

Movie by Suzanne Koczon-Shipley who lives in Unit 1.

Click to Download

 

 

 

Penny Simpson, Anna Marie Nelson, and I had lunch before seeing “Oppenheimer."

 

Christopher Nolan drops major hint about 'Oppenheimer' ending: 'it's an intellectual one' - Gossip Herald

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Whatever else the future holds for us,

it should never paralyze us with its anxieties

or distract us from

our tasks of faithful service.

~ Jill Duffield

 

 

 

 

 

 

July 23, 2023  Eighth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 11 Year A

 

Previous OPQs may be found at:

     http://www.dotjack.com/opq.htm

 

 

24He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27And 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?’ 28He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30Let 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.’”

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



Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

comic

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

 

12So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh — 13for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ — if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

18I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Romans 8:12-25

Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

LECTIONARY

Genesis 28:10–19a 

Psalm 139:1–12, 23–24 

Romans 8:12–25 

Matthew 13:24–30, 36–43

 

 

aa

Summary

The parable of the weeds among wheat is the second in a series of agriculture parables. Jesus pursues different spins on the same metaphors, turning them around to elucidate the many layers of the Kingdom of Heaven. This one “zooms in” on the matter of those who reject the gospel and how the management of the Kingdom accounts for it.

The parable points out that the work of the Evil One sows in the same field, producing an evil crop; the “children of the evil one” amid the “children of the kingdom” (v. 38). These two grow up together for the time being, but at the final judgment are separated cleanly.

Why the delay? Clues come from the offending weed that the Lord had in view. “Darnel” is a non-nutritious plant that looks like wheat, especially in its infancy. By uprooting darnel too early, one could uproot the wheat instead. Only in its full maturity can the difference be reliably determined.

Because only God is capable of knowing which is which, one should not be quick to pronounce judgment on a fellow believer who strays from the faith, lest they turn out to be wheat. Instead, the message is for the church to be patient and forgiving of those within its care, leaving the final judgment of each and every soul to God alone and encouraging one another to grow up into the good wheat of the Spirit instead of the darnel of the Devil.

https://www.preachingtoday.com/lectionary/

 

 

July 23 – 16th Sunday of the Year / Eighth Sunday after Pentecost [Prop. 11A]

“The kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field.  While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat . . .
“The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed . . . the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants . . .
“The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.”
Matthew 13: 24-43
                                              
THE WORD:

Matthew’s Gospel has been called the “Gospel of the Kingdom,” containing some 51 references to the kingdom or reign of God.  Three of Jesus’ “kingdom” parables make up today's Gospel:

The parable of the wheat and the weeds:  God’s kingdom will be “harvested” from among the good that exists side-by-side with the bad.  Palestinian farmers were plagued by tares –
weeds that were very difficult to distinguish from good grain.  The two would often grow together and become so intertwined that it was impossible to separate them without ripping both weed and plant from the ground.  Jesus teaches his impatient followers that the Lord of the harvest is more concerned with the growth of the wheat than with the elimination of the weeds.  The time for separation and burning will come in God's own time; our concern should be that of our own faithfulness.

The parable of the mustard seed:  The smallest and humblest are enabled by the Holy Spirit to do great things in the kingdom of God.  From small and humble beginnings, God’s kingdom will grow.

The parable of the yeast:  A small amount of yeast mixed with three measures of flour can make enough bread to feed over a hundred.  In the same way, God’s reign is a powerful albeit unseen force.
     
Matthew’s Gospel was written some 50 years after Jesus’ death and 15 years after the destruction of Jerusalem.  By this time, it is clear to the community of Christians that Jesus is not going to be accepted by all of Israel as the Messiah.  In citing these parables, the writer of Matthew encouraged the largely Jewish Christian community to see itself as the legitimate heir to God's promises to Israel.  They were the “good wheat” existing side by side with the “weeds” that would destroy it, the small mustard seed that would give rise to the great and mighty tree of the Church, the small amount of yeast that would become bread for the world.

HOMILY POINTS:

“The wheat and weeds”:  We often approach religion as a deadly serious business; we lose the spirit of joy and the sense of hope that are part of the promise of the Risen Christ.  We become so concerned about pulling out the weeds that we forget to harvest the grain; we become so focused on the evil and abuses that surround us and “threaten” us that we fail to realize and celebrate the healing and life-giving presence of God in our very midst; we become so intent in upbraiding and punishing sinners that our own lives become mired in gloom and despair.  The task of judging sinners belongs to God; to us belongs the work of compassion and reconciliation.

When we hear Jesus’ parable of the wheat and the weeds, we first think of good people (the wheat) and bad people (the weeds) coexisting in an imperfect world until the coming of God’s kingdom.  But every individual possesses something of both the “good” wheat and “evil” weed.  Every one of us possesses the ability to do compassionate and just things out of love — but there exists within us the same ability to do destructive things out of selfishness and greed.  Discipleship recognizes that struggle existing within each one of us but also embraces the hope that, in seeking to imitate Christ’s spirit of loving servanthood, we may be “wheat” for a world that is often choking in “weeds.”   

“Mustard seed”:  All of us, at some time, are called to be “mustard seeds,” to do the small, thankless things that are necessary to bring a sense of wholeness and fulfillment to our homes and communities.  From such “mustard seeds” is yielded a great harvest of peace and reconciliation.

“Yeast”:  In baptism, we accept God's call to be “yeast,” to be the bread of compassion, justice and forgiveness to a world which is desperately hungry in its despair and hopelessness.  

https://connectionsmediaworks.com/sundaygospel.html#july23

 

 

First Reading Genesis 28:10-19a

10Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. 11He came to a certain place and stayed there for the night, because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones of the place, he put it under his head and lay down in that place. 12And he dreamed that there was a ladder set up on the earth, the top of it reaching to heaven; and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And the LORD stood beside him and said, “I am the LORD, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring; 14and your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you and in your offspring. 15Know that I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 16Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place — and I did not know it!” 17And he was afraid, and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”

18So Jacob rose early in the morning, and he took the stone that he had put under his head and set it up for a pillar and poured oil on the top of it. 19aHe called that place Bethel;

Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24

1   O LORD, you have searched me and known me. 
2   You know when I sit down and when I rise up; 
          you discern my thoughts from far away. 
3   You search out my path and my lying down, 
          and are acquainted with all my ways. 
4   Even before a word is on my tongue, 
          O LORD, you know it completely. 
5   You hem me in, behind and before, 
          and lay your hand upon me. 
6   Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; 
          it is so high that I cannot attain it.

7   Where can I go from your spirit? 
          Or where can I flee from your presence? 
8   If I ascend to heaven, you are there; 
          if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there. 
9   If I take the wings of the morning 
          and settle at the farthest limits of the sea, 
10  even there your hand shall lead me, 
          and your right hand shall hold me fast. 
11  If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, 
          and the light around me become night,” 
12  even the darkness is not dark to you; 
          the night is as bright as the day, 
          for darkness is as light to you.

23  Search me, O God, and know my heart; 
          test me and know my thoughts. 
24  See if there is any wicked way in me, 
          and lead me in the way everlasting.

Second Reading Romans 8:12-25

12So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh — 13for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ — if, in fact, we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

18I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; 20for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; 23and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Gospel Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

24He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. 26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27And 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?’ 28He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 30Let 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.’”

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