Ordinary Time Week 6

Psalm: Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24 

Old Testament: Genesis 28:10-19a 

Gospel: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43 

Epistle: Romans 8:12-25

This post is a week late because I was in Yellowstone with limited access. Seeing the geysers and volcanic activity, and even just the animals and trees, make one realize just how amazing and creative nature really is. It is interesting to read Paul’s words about creation groaning (Rom. 8:22) in light of the geysers and boiling pools in Yellowstone. I don’t think Paul knew anything about these things, yet he says that all creation is waiting and groaning for humanities salvation. It is a strange thought that creation is awaiting humanities redemption, but we alone are created in the image and likeness and God and we were tasked as stewards to care for creation from the very beginning in the Garden of Eden. So, it makes sense within the biblical narrative, and all of creation is wrapped up into the story of salvation wrought by Jesus.

Notice also that Paul says we are awaiting “the redemption of our body.” We are not waiting to be rescued from earth, as if we would be yanked by our spiritual shirt collars and leave this entire world behind. We are waiting for the redemption and restoration of our bodies, and this will renew creation as well. I have mentioned this idea on this blog before, so I will just point out again that the New Testament repeatedly talks about a new restored creation, and a bodily redemption.

I also want to briefly mention the parable of the tares and the wheat that Jesus gives in Matt. 13. This is a parable that perhaps doesn’t get enough discussion in the Church. This is also one of the parables that gets an explanation from Jesus. Jesus says that the wheat and the tares, representing the righteous and the wicked, to grow up together. Judgment will come at the “end of the age” when the angels will separate the wheat from the tares. How often has the Church excommunicates, persecuted, divided, and even killed those perceived to be on the outside? This parable at least should make us pause and think if this is truly our job. Do we know who are the wheat and who are the tares? Certainly we are told in other places to be discerning and to be wary of heretical believes and practices, but we have to be careful.

The Bible has so many nuances and things to consider. Just when we think we understand it, we read a parable that seems to say simple “live and let live.” We then have to think and wonder where this fits into everything else that Scripture says. How do we align two passages which don’t always agree at the surface level. The Bible causes us to think, pray, read the Church’s writings, and discuss. Ultimately we grow in knowledge and wisdom and in our relationship with God and others because of this struggle with Scripture. So this week read the bible and don’t be afraid to ask some hard questions and the let the Scripture speak to you.

Grace and Peace.