Monday, July 14

Matthew 13:24-26
He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well.
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One way to read and learn from parables is to listen for what surprises us. What surprised me today in this parable is that Jesus is describing the kingdom of heaven and it includes work. Hmmm. Not exactly my picture of heaven.  But there's more.  It includes a weed vandal.  Someone breaking into our work for no other purpose than to make our lives difficult. THIS is the kingdom of heaven?  Really?  Then the kingdom of heaven looks alot like our lives right now which means the kingdom of heaven is already upon us.  God is sorting things out.  It would be good, however, not to be a weed in the long run....or a vandal for that matter. 
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May I grow according to your purposes, Lord, and may I not choke anyone in the process.  Amen.