The Ninth Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 11A), July 17, 2005

BCP: Wisdom 12:13,16-19; Psalm 86 or 86:11-17; Rom. 8:18-25; Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43

RCL: Gen. 28:10-19a or Wisdom 12:13,16-19 or Isaiah 44:6-8; Psalm 139:1-11,22-23 or 86:11-17; Rom. 8:12-25; Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43

Though God will make no compromise with sin or any other evil, he is merciful, full of compassion, and tender toward sinners. His mercy and leniency are a welcome and comforting message for sinners, yet the sinner is in danger of holding on to the leniency and neglecting the call to repent.

Sinners deflect, often very skillfully, all calls to hear the truth of God. For that reason, Jesus closes much of his teaching with the words “Anyone who has ears should listen!” —- the appeal to his hearers truly to listen. It is the closing line of his explanation of today’s parable (Matt. 13:43b). In both Hebrew and Greek, the word for “hear” is the same as the word for “obey.” Numerous passages in both Old and New Testaments urge the people of God not merely to go through the motions of worship or of being taught, but rather to show the fruits of hearing by obedience.

In the first lesson for today, we hear that God “cares for everyone” and his “sentences have been just” (Wisdom 12:13). Further, we hear that God’s “strength is the basis of [his] saving justice” (12:16a). Moreover, God ultimately shows his strength “when people will not believe in [his] absolute power” (12:17a).

In precise parallel, the gospel presents the parable of the wheat and the darnel. The “sower of the good seed” who is the “Son of man” (Matt. 13:24, 37), is lenient when it is brought to his attention that darnel — a weed that looks very like wheat but has no fruit — has been sown among his good seed. The darnel, “the subjects of the Evil One” (13:38), may be convinced while they are allowed to grow that they are safe from judgment, but they are nonetheless destined for destruction.

Lest we take the theme too simplistically, the lesson from Romans places us firmly into real life. Paul teaches that all of creation is under “slavery to corruption” (Rom. 8:21) and the people of God “suffer in the present time” (8:18). The suffering may be due to persecution, but the wider context implies that the faithful also suffer because of their own failure to come up to God’s standards. The difference is that the faithful “in hope ... already have salvation” (8:24). Even in a sinful world and falling short themselves, their heartfelt hope and dedication are for “the glory that is destined to be disclosed” (8:18).

Look It Up

Which verse in today’s psalm strikes at the heart of the overall theme?

Think About It

Have you ever experienced an “Aha!” moment when, after much effort, someone has finally gotten through to you about something you were resisting and the insight brought you powerfully closer to God?

Next Sunday

The 10th Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 12A), July 24, 2005

BCP: 1 Kings 3:5-12; Psalm 119:121-136 or 119:129-136; Rom. 8:26-34; Matt. 13:31-33,44-49a

RCL: Gen. 29:15-28 or 1 Kings 3:5-12; Psalm 105:1-11, 45b or 119:129-136 or 128; Rom. 8:26-39; Matt. 13: 31-33, 44-52