Reflective space 16 19th July 2020

Pentecost + 7

Psalm 139. 1-12;23-24 Genesis 28:10-22 Romans 8.12-25

Matthew 13.24-30,36-43

today’s focus reading

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

The Parable of the Weeds Jesus told them another parable: “The Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man sowed good seed in his field. One night, when everyone was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. When the plants grew and the heads of grain began to form, then the weeds showed up. The man's servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, it was good seed you sowed in your field; where did the weeds come from?’ ‘It was some enemy who did this,’ he answered. ‘Do you want us to go and pull up the weeds?’ they asked him. ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because as you gather the weeds you might pull up some of the wheat along with them. Let the wheat and the weeds both grow together until harvest. Then I will tell the har-vest workers to pull up the weeds first, tie them in bundles and burn them, and then to gather in the wheat and put it in my barn.’”

Jesus Explains the Parable of the Weeds When Jesus had left the crowd and gone indoors, his disciples came to him and said, “Tell us what the parable about the weeds in the field means.” Jesus answered, “The man who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world; the good seed is the people who belong to the King-dom; the weeds are the people who belong to the Evil One; and the enemy who sowed the weeds is the Devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvest workers are angels. Just as the weeds are gath-ered up and burned in the fire, so the same thing will happen at the end of the age: the Son of Man will send out his angels to gather up out of his Kingdom all those who cause people to sin and all others who do evil things, and they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where they will cry and gnash their teeth. Then God's people will shine like the sun in their Father's Kingdom. Listen, then, if you have ears!

be aware of God’s presence

God, you search me and you know me; you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely.

Search me, God, and know my heart; and lead me in the way everlasting.

From Psalm 139

Comments on the Gospel It has been said that The best way to tell the difference be-tween weeds and flowers is to dig everything up and throw it away. The ones that grow back – they’re the weeds!

There is a particular kind of weed which is mentioned by Jesus in the parable of the ‘Wheat and the Tares’- Lolium Temulentum (and they say Protestant ministers have no need of Latin!) It still grows in the Middle East and has the lovely common name of ‘Bearded Darnel’.

It is a type of rye grass that looks just like wheat until the ear appears, and only then can the layman tell them apart. The problem with trying to get rid of them before the harvest is that they have a deeper root system than wheat and so you will rip out the wheat with the weeds, the good with the bad, and so lose everything. You have to let it grow together and only at the final harvest they will be separated. In a world of growing division, separation, where people seem to be more keen to fence themselves in to their own camp and judge others, perhaps we need to readdress how we grow together, nourish each other and live in communi-ty. It seems that the instinct of God is to let all grow togeth-er. We may rather clear out the bad, get rid of the weeds, separate the godly from the ungodly ... yet ours is not to judge but to keep our own face turned towards the sun – keep our eye focussed on God until we grow to full maturity.

a reflection Stories fascinate us, speak to us, inspire and challenge us. That is the purpose behind the most ancient of folk tales, even though too many became sanitised when given the Disney treatment, or altered to become known as Fairy Tales which has a more child-friendly tone. Stories and the telling of them were not always so sanitised and gentle on the soul, and we just need to read some of the ones we find in the Old Testament to see that. Stories were the means through which many sought to pass on and share truths, deep truths. And not just to those who were intellec-tually less able that they might understand heavy theological doctrines, but because everyone engages with a good story. The Jewish teachers and rabbis of old knew that, as do many of the great teachers, spiritual and religious leaders. So, Jesus was not the inventor of story-telling, but he was one of the greats, although not all of his stories were easy on the ear to be told before bedtime. One reason Jesus almost exclusively taught in stories becomes apparent as we read them, for they are all concerned with human behaviour. They don’t tell us about people’s doctrine or creed, intellectual thinking or fine ideas, but about what they do and about how they feel and think as they do it. Think on the sense of dismay that beaten-up man must have felt as he lay on the pavement as holy men and unconcerned folk passed him by while a foreigner came to help. Or the delight of the woman finding a lost coin or a shepherd a lost sheep. These are just some of the emotions we all have felt expressed by the people in Jesus’ stories. Of course Jesus’ stories are more than simple stories, they are called parables, because their overriding aim was to announce something of the nature of God and how God’s kingdom is evident in real life So we don’t get dramatic doctrinal statements or pointers to the great philosophical thinkers, but stories about farmers and landowners, wheat & weeds, children & pharisees, employ-ees and housewives. For Jesus, the kingdom of God wasn’t just a theological concept, it was something you can get in-volved in, participate in. You become part of the story … not

just the greatest story ever told, but the greatest story ever lived. Nor is a parable a test or exam. For rarely if ever did Jesus offer an explanation … or at least not a single meaning or ab-solute interpretation. In fact, when explanations are offered – as in today’s parable – it is often believed that these explana-tions were put in by the gospel writers rather than a verbatim minute of what Jesus said. For he would more often tell a story then leave it for the hearers to think about and reflect on for themselves. “Those who have ears, hear!” Jesus knew that when people truly listen to a story then they hear perhaps what they need to hear and not just what they want to hear. Only by truly listening do we hear, and the point of a story for you may not be what Jesus intends for me. Having attended an online Webinar this week led by members

of the L’ Arche Community I am reminded of a story which illustrates this.

Many years ago while chaplain in a school for people with

learning disabilities we shared the story of the Good Samaritan. In asking this group of teenagers, “who was the

most important person in the story?” a few of gave the anticipated response … “the Samaritan!” But then one

youngster said “The Innkeeper was the most important one in the story.” Not the person who immediately comes to mind, and so the boy was asked, “Why is he important?”

“Well how would you feel if someone knocked on your door and left a bloody body on the doorstep and asked you to

look after him? And ‘though he said he would be back with more money to help, you wouldn’t know that!

So he had to be very trusting and caring to look after that man until he was better!”

God’s Love is revealed through our response to that which lands at our door.

A refreshing, surprising, and important insight from a young man with learning disabilities on a story for which we have all heard the predictable answers. We can gain insight from the most unexpected people which is why we must listen to each other and the stories we tell. Also why we must truly listen to the stories of Jesus, let go of our preconceived notions and expectations and hear what we might need to hear rather than what we expect.

A Blessing

The Creator who brought order out of chaos, give peace to you.

The Saviour who stilled the raging storm,

give peace to you.

The Spirit who broods on the deep, give peace to you.

Amen.

a prayer Offered by Kevin Scott

Creator God,

you made us and every living thing, awesome, wonderful, and to your glory.

We give thanks

that we are who we are. That we are yours.

Fearfully and wonderfully made.

We give thanks, for every gift, blessing and purpose,

freely given from you enlightening, enriching and enlivening our lives.

All-knowing God,

you know us better than we know ourselves. you know every one of our thoughts and actions,

and yet You love us.

No matter how far we wander, or what we do.

your love encircles us, gently blessing,

and leading and guiding us back to Your path.

Loving God,

there are situations and circumstances, across your world,

which trouble and concern us.

There are those we know of and those whom we love,

who are sick at this time. And in a moment of silence,

we bring them before you now

- keep a short time of silence -

We ask that you would surround and cover all with your healing presence.

Grant wisdom to those who need answers to difficult questions.

Grant hope to those who despair and friendship to those who feel lonely. Most of all, may they all know your love,

the great love which you have for each one.

You know the hairs on each head, You count the beat of each heart.

You knit each together when we were being formed,

You know each getting up and each lying down. You were there at each beginning

And You will be with us all through to the end.

Amen.

to say or to sing

Psalm 139 as found in CH4 No. 97

By Bernadette Farrell

O God, you search me and you know me. All my thoughts lie open to your gaze.

When I walk or lie down you are before me: ever the maker and keeper of my days.

You know my resting and my rising. You discern my purpose from afar,

and with love everlasting you besiege me: in every moment of life or death, you are.

Before a word is on my tongue, Lord,

you have known its meaning through and through. You are with me beyond my understanding: God of my present, my past and future, too.

Although your Spirit is upon me,

still I search for shelter from your light. There is nowhere on earth I can escape you:

even the darkness is radiant in your sight.

For you created me and shaped me, gave me life within my mother’s womb.

For the wonder of who I am, I praise you: safe in your hands, all creation is made new.

Re-Opening of Church Buildings

You will be hearing via the First Minister and other media reports that things are beginning to move

at a pace with reopening of many social and cultural buildings, businesses, and facilities. Of course, this is

only PERMISSION to open and not an instruction. It is up to the individual business, organisation, institution to do

so in a a safe way in its own time.

You will hear such things as funerals and weddings can be held in churches with a maximum of 20 people.

This ‘20’would include the minister, organist, duty person and funeral director. With a wedding, the 20 would similarly include those taking part as well as guests.

All of this is still based on the current 2 metre physical distancing regulation.

We are NOT yet at the stage of doing this.

With regards to worship,

and the restriction on numbers, no singing, no commun-ion, all the sanitisation before and after, to sit on your own

with a face covering 2 metres from your friend and in a seat you are told to sit in rather than the one you want to sit in is hardly a worshipful experience. Along with the

age profile, we do not yet consider it safe, loving, or spiritual to open our buildings for worship yet.

We are carrying out Risk Assessments

on all our church buildings, including halls, and have those approved before we can open even for one person to enter for personal prayer, let alone a group to gather,

or a meeting to take place.

In the meantime, please be patient, be understanding, and sympathise with those who carry the burden of gradually opening up our buildings again.

Whilst the lockdown restrictions are eased some of our community may still need sup-port. The local group of volunteers remains available and can be contacted on 0800 121 6212. Face coverings are being made for the community. If you would like one please get in touch with Christine Leith.

Which Zoom participant are you?

Please let Stewart know if there is any appropriate news you would like shared. smcpherson@churchofscotland.org.uk Or, if you have any questions please ask.