Kingdom Treasure, Pentecost 8, July 30, 2017

Eighth Sunday of Pentecost (Year A)

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Jesus’ parables remind us that the faith we preach and the kingdom we announce finally isn’t an intellectual idea but an experience, an experience of the creative and redemptive power of God that continues to change lives.

– David Lose, senior pastor,

Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, Minn.

Theme: Kingdom Treasure

Reflection: What is the one thing that we would ask for, if we were given one choice? What is our treasure, our pearl of great price that we would give everything to acquire?

That’s the gist of the final two parables in our Gospel text today. And the thread running through the lessons. What is the most important thing we can choose?

In the Old Testament lesson, God comes to the youthful, newly-crowned King Solomon in a dream. “One thing, Solomon. What will it be?”

Likewise, Jesus comes to the disciples after telling them a handful of parables…

(Just an aside, I can’t wait to read this gospel lesson in worship. Every time I read it, I think of Jesus telling these parables like someone of the Kingdom, trying to explain it to disciples and people who have never experienced the grace and freedom of the Kingdom. It’s like trying to explain the color blue to someone who is blind, or describing the sound of a flute to a person who is deaf.

Rapid-fire, he tries time and time again to help them understand: “The kingdom of heaven, it’s like …. Here’s a better example: the kingdom of heaven is like … Or the kingdom of heaven is like … No, the kingdom of heaven is like….”)

Out of breath, Jesus looks around at them. “Have you understood all this?” And the bewildered disciples together say yes. But not very convincingly.

If we look around us, we know we’re as clueless as the disciples. What is our treasure, the thing for which we would give up everything?

•  The bumper sticker in the church parking lot that reads “the one that dies with the most toys wins.” Wins what, for goodness’ sake? Do your possessions stop you from gaining real treasure?
• Is it your family? If your spouse and your children are everything to you, does God only become your treasure if you lose them all?
• Job, wealth and security? Some people think having it all means a great job, investing toward a large retirement income, and enough insurance that if something happened, their families would be set. A friend recently told me he worked five straight weeks of 11-hour days, seven days a week, and wouldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel for weeks to come. And that was on top of family and community obligations. I asked him where that would get him if he endangered his health or relationships. Stop and think when making a living takes the place of living well.
• Or could it be the church itself? A friend and I mused one day about a new position either of us was qualified to do. Rolling our eyes, we each declined it. At that time, we already were serving eight roles apiece in the church. Most weeks, we were there or at off-campus church groups 4-5 days a week, and doing work at home in our “spare time.” Even the church can be a barrier between us and the treasure of a relationship with God.

Just because we’re ministry leaders and we’ve faced this question again and again, it doesn’t free us from these challenges. All of us can name other people, and list when we, too, have fallen prey to these situations. Jesus asked the disciples, “Have you understood all this?”

“Yes,” they said theoretically, not knowing the situations they would face in Jerusalem. “Yes,” they answered, not knowing that discipleship would mean leaving their lives, families and plans behind forever. “Yes,” they answered, not knowing that all but one would be killed spreading the Gospel.

Earlier, we left Solomon in his dream, pondering his treasure. New to his reign, he could have asked for wealth, victory over his enemies, even a long life so he could rule for decades. In his answer to God’s offer, he showed humility and reverence, asking for wisdom to be a king after God’s own heart. And his answer pleased the Lord. Solomon knew where to find his treasure.

(You always are welcome to respond with your thoughts and reflections in the comments section at the bottom of this post.) 

Faith App:  Focusing on only one thing is a powerful force for change. Find the one thing you can do (maybe 15 minutes of prayer or devotion, or prayer with your children, or an action of love) that moves you toward putting God first in your life. 

HYMN/SONG SUGGESTIONS

Be Thou My Vision, ELW 793

Jesus, Priceless Treasure, ELW 775

Give Me Jesus, ELW 770

O Word of God Incarnate, ELW 514

Neither Death nor Life, ELW 622

If God My Lord Be for Me, ELW 788

Take My Life, That I May Be, ELW 583

We Eat the Bread of Teaching, ELW 518

Eat This Bread, Drink This Cup, ELW 492

Your Love Never Fails, Jesus Culture/Newsboys

One Thing Remains, Passion/Kristian Stanfill

Fix My Eyes, for King & Country

Same Power, Jeremy Camp

I Am, The City Harmonic

Lay It Down, Brenton Brown/Matt Maher

LESSONS

1 Kings 3:5-12 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people.

Psalm 119:129-136 Your decrees are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.

Romans 8:26-39 Who will separate us from the love of Christ?

Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 Mustard seed, yeast, treasure and pearls of great price.

Summary: What is the one thing, our pearl of great price, that we would give anything to acquire? Would we want to be rich so we could acquire all things, as wise as Solomon, in good health to live a long life? Or would we wish for a listening heart to hear the needs of the world and allow God to act through us, bringing forth the kingdom, day by day?

OPENING LITANY based on Psalm 119:129-136

L:  Knowing your heart is what I desire most, Lord,

C:  I want my soul to follow where you will lead it;

L:  The “Aha!” moment when your Spirit shows me truth,

C:  Like a flash of lightning when you open my mind.

L:  Direct my ways, Lord, for I’m yearning to obey you;

C:  Look upon me with love, for your name brings me joy.

L:  Guide me to the high roads, as you’ve promised,

C:  And keep my sin-loving self from running the show.

L:  I want to live for you, Lord, so don’t let anyone stop me;

C:  Be kind to your servant when you point the right way.

L:  Does it cause you pain when your people miss the mark?

C:  I weep in disappointment because I can’t keep your law.

CONFESSION

L:  Lord, the kingdom of heaven is foreign to us;

C:  Parables are riddles – who understands them?

L:  Give it to us straight – just tell us what to do;

C:  And we’ll work on it, when we have the time.

L:  Lord, the kingdom of heaven defies our vision;

C:  A new crisis keeps happening, all of the time.

L:  And oppression undermines our call for peace;

C:  We doubt you could work this for your good.

L:  Lord, the kingdom of heaven seems so distant;

C:  Our streams of tears can’t wash away the pain.

L:  Open our eyes to see the kingdom coming now;

C:  And open our hearts to be part of the change.

(Silent reflection)

L:  In our confession, we pray together,

C:  Most Merciful God … our vision of your kingdom is far from yours. We get distracted by things of this world and see obstacles instead of treasure. We see yeast ruining the flour, and you see leaven to bake bread for the hungry. We see a field of useless shrubs, and you envision a nature preserve where your creation flourishes or new housing for the homeless. Keep training us for the kingdom of heaven in our worship and work for you in this place.

Hear this Good News: Nothing – Absolutely nothing we face can separate us from the love of God who came to us as Jesus the Christ. No troubles of today or troubles to come. There’s nowhere we can go that God isn’t there. Nothing in our lives or even death itself will take us away from God who calls us Beloved. You are forgiven and set free from anything that would come between you and this Kingdom-Force Love who calls you child.

In the name of…

Amen

PRAYER OF THE DAY

L:  We pray together, 

C:  God who searches our hearts … we pray today for the wisdom to get our life priorities straight. You have given us so many ways to invest our time and our finances: work, family, possessions, community organizations, travel and leisure. Give us understanding minds to seek the greatest treasure, to put you first in our lives. And after that, so many of our other priorities fall naturally in place. Help us to live well, making choices that please you and lead others to you. Amen.

COMMUNION BLESSING

L:  We pray together,

C:  We give you thanks, most gracious God, for the wisdom in this bread, for your steadfast love in this cup.  Give us not want we want, but what you see that we need. Give us understanding minds to know your will, and discerning hearts to reveal what will bring forth the kingdom of heaven in our community and our world.  Amen.

SENDING

L:  Like the finder of the pearl of great price,

C:  Or one who sells all to buy the treasure,

L:  We are disciples, learning to put you first,

C:  Seeing your blessings in every new day!

L:  Go now, kingdom seekers, to love and to serve the Lord.

C: Thanks be to God!

First Reading 1 Kings 3:5-12 (NRSV)

Setting the scene: Solomon wasn’t the oldest of King David’s sons, but God chose him as the new king, much like he chose David, the youngest of Jesse’s sons. Today’s encounter between God and Solomon sets the tone for his reign.

⁵ At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, “Ask what I should give you.” ⁶ And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. ⁷ And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. ⁸ And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. ⁹ Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?”

¹⁰ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. ¹¹ God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, ¹² I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you.

Second Reading Romans 8:26-39 (NRSV)

Setting the scene: Paul wraps up four chapters of his theology teaching to the new Christian church in Rome. Today’s lesson is the climax Paul has been writing toward in this letter.

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words. ²⁷ And God, who searches the heart, knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

²⁸ We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹ For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn within a large family. ³⁰ And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.

³¹ What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us? ³² He who did not withhold his own Son, but gave him up for all of us, will he not with him also give us everything else? ³³ Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. ³⁵ Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ³⁶ As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all day long;
    we are accounted as sheep to be slaughtered.”

³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹ nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gospel Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 (NRSV)

Setting the scene: Like a good teacher, Jesus mixes teaching with practical experience of ministry. Jesus’ stories used the everyday items of the disciples’ lives to teach about the kingdom of God.

³¹ He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; ³² 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.”

³³ 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.”

⁴⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

⁴⁵ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; ⁴⁶ on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

⁴⁷ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; ⁴⁸ when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. ⁴⁹ So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous ⁵⁰ and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

⁵¹ “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” ⁵² And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”