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As we gather, we recognize that we live, work, pray, and play
in the traditional, unceded lands
of the Cowichan Tribes and Coast Salish People.
We continue to commit ourselves
to the work of reconciliation and relationship-building
with our First Nations neighbours.
Call to Worship:
My word shall accomplish
that which I purpose,
and prosper in the thing
for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55.11
O, Come. Let Us Worship.
Gathering
Almighty God,
to you all hearts are open, all desires known,
and from you no secrets are hidden.
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the
inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Collect for Today
Almighty God,
Your Son has opened for us
a new and living way into your presence.
Give us pure hearts, and constant wills,
to worship you in spirit and in truth;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The Proclamation of the Gospel:
Matthew 13. 24-30, 36-43
Sermon: The Ven. Brian Evans
May the words of my mouth and the meditations of
our hearts be ever acceptable to you, O Lord. Amen.
“Wheat and Weeds: Good and Evil”
A small bit of prairie history:
For farmers in Saskatchewan, there are a number of "what are called noxious” weeds.
One of my responsibilities in my 1st vocation was to enforce the "Noxious Weed Act".
One of the weeds on that list was called “Tansy Mustard,” or “wild mustard.”
My work was north of the North Saskatchewan River. Famers were not allowed to buy seeders, or harvester equipment from south of the river.
One of the problem-weeds that grew in that part of the province was 'tansy mustard', and one of the main areas for growing canola was north of the river, where I worked.
On more than one occasion, I was called to research the paper-trail of where someone had bought their seeding or harvesting equipment. (It was suggested that they might have originated from south of the North Saskatchewan River.)
I share this in relation to the gospel for today.
The farmer has seeded his crop with good seed, except when the crop came up, it was obvious there had been weeds among the seed, seeded by “someone.”
What I find interesting, is when the workers ask if they should pull out all the weeds, the farmer says "no, wait until the harvest, then you will not uproot the good plants."
When I read these verses of scripture, I am reminded of the Registered Seed Growers “rouging” their fields, just before harvest or at a field inspection.
There is an analogy on how to identify the young plants, wheat vs. weeds: knowing the "real plants" have less resistance than the weeds.
Except the time when my oldest brother came into the house, and asked my mother if my dad should be hoeing the weeds, which he identified as onions.
Jesus shares this lesson as a "teaching moment" about the coexistence of good and evil in this world.
Jesus’ explanation of this parable is worth repeating:
Then he (Jesus) left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds of the field.”
Jesus answered,
‘The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom;
the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil;
the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels.
Just as the weeds are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age.
The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers,
and they will throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.
Let anyone with ears listen!
One part we miss in this reading is reference to "the end of age."
This reference reminds us God’s judgement will remove all evildoers and causes of sin,
-BUT-(and this is the significant part)
not until the end of human history.
And I would think, “do we have to wait that long?”
MY REFLECTION on this statement is: “I’m not sure I can wait, or want to wait, that long.”
Thankfully, we have Jacob’s dream to reflect upon.
There have been moments in my life when I have wondered just what messages the angels of God are carrying up to the heavens, and what they are descending with.
This dream also pre-empts for us the symbolism in the architecture of our churches:
In good liturgical language, and making reference to the HIGH ALTAR; representative of the Jacob’s dream; and the ancient practice of the priests ascending the temple stairway to approach the deity.
More significant, is how this dream illustrates for us God’s promise to Jacob, and the salvation of his people.
To take this one more step farther, is to see the ladder to heaven representing the cross.
God’s blessing coming down for our salvation as representative of the cross.
At the same time, in the parable of the wheat and the weeds, Jesus reminds us to be careful with our human propensity to judgement.
Taking me back to my comment of not wanting to wait until the end of time.
As Jesus reminds us, not to be too quick to expel those for whom we place our human judgement upon "to wait."
It is for our Lord to act, and the evangelist Matthew reminds us to exercise patience, and restraint, within the community. For we are reminded in our walk with the Lord: we find it more easy to condemn, and think of the other as ‘weed.’
Martin Luther reminded the world in his writings, we are always both saints and sinners.
In our funeral liturgy's "Prayer of Commendation" we pray:
Into your hands, O merciful Saviour, we commend your servant N.
Acknowledge, we pray, a sheep of your own fold, a lamb of your own flock,
a sinner of your own redeeming.
Receive him/her into the arms of your mercy,
into the blessed rest of everlasting peace,
and into the glorious company of the saints in light.
Once again, drawing attention for us to be reminded that, at the end of time, it is God’s judgement.
This prayer is reflective of the theology of God as contained in the scriptures:
All God created is good, and all, at the same time, may have fallen, finding ourselves groaning in pain (weeping and gnashing of teeth).
Yet, in the end we will discover new birth.
In the final moment then, as the prayer reminds us, we have been redeemed.
For we are all children of God, chosen,
which, greater than being of natural offspring,
we have been adopted, beloved, dependent,
obedient children of God.
Theologian Jennifer Obermueller writes: (I like her analogy)
"At the font and the table, and in our lives together in the world,
we await God’s harvest with friends;
with all the righteous loving ones; with the great company of heaven;
with our kin in the rest of the creation;
and with Jesus, our Kin and our Love.
With all creation we wait, tails wagging, and our noses pressed against the door;
we await the good news that you and I declare.
Because the Son of Man is coming with angels.
For a good, joyful healing, liberating harvest where all will have what they need.
As Steve Garnass-Holmes writes in his poem, Weeds and Wheat:
"May my peace and acceptance be the seeds I sow for the next harvest."
Thanks be to God, give thanks to God today for that. Amen.
Let Us Pray
Confident that God receives
our joys, and concerns,
let us offer our prayers for the church,
those in need, and all of creation.
And we continue to pray, in our country,
and around the world, in the midst of a natural disaster,
and particularly here in British Columbia,
where fires are burning up our forests,
for those people who are losing their homes
and their livelihood.
O God,
you call your Church to announce
the gospel of reconciliation, and truth,
both near and far.
Guide your Church as it seeks
your wisdom and shares it,
trusting your Spirit
bearing witness among us.
Hear us, O God:
For your mercy is great.
You brought forth
all creation and called it good.
Direct policy- makers to protect
lands and seas.
Bring rain to sun-parched fields,
and protect areas impacted
by natural disasters.
Hear us, O God:
For your mercy is great.
You desire peace among nations and peoples.
Guard our neighbourhoods from hatred;
watch over police officers and firefighters;
and teach us to advocate for those who live in fear.
Hear us, O God:
For your mercy is great.
You are gracious and merciful,
comforting those who suffer any affliction.
Sustain your people living with HIV/AIDS;
provide shelter for all who are unhoused;
and release any who are unjustly imprisoned.
In our parish we continue to pray for:
Roy & Gail; Daryl & Sue; Roy; Jay; Sheila; Sharlene;
Yasmine; Roberta; David; Pip; Maureen; and those on our hearts.
Hear us, O God:
For your mercy is great.
You name each of us as your children.
Guide our hospitality ministry to welcome all;
our education ministry to equip us for faithful living;
and our social ministry to enact the gospel in our community.
Hear us, O God:
For your mercy is great.
You send faithful people
to proclaim freedom from bondage,
and to renew your church.
Encourage us by the witness of the faithful departed,
so that we live into that same hope.
Hear us, O God:
For your mercy is great.
Into your hands, O God,
we commend all for whom we pray,
in the name of the one who reconciled
all creation to himself:
Jesus Christ, our Saviour. Amen.
As our Saviour taught us:
Our Father,
who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name,
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive
those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us fom evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
forever and ever. Amen.
Prayer after Communion
We thank you, God,
that you strengthen us daily in your holy mysteries;
And may our lives continue to be a faithful offering,
To your witness in the world;
Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
The Blessing:
The peace of God,
which passes all understanding,
keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and
love of God, and of his son, Jesus Christ, our Lord.
And the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be with you, and remain with you, always. Amen.
(FOR YOUR FURTHER ENJOYMENT:)
Let weeds and wheat grow together until the harvest…. —Matthew 13.30
Weeds and Wheat:
God, I meant to be a good person;
I wanted to produce wisdom and justice.
How is it I am so compromised?
There is goodness and mercy in me,
and there is selfishness and fear,
privilege that serves only my fake desires.
I’ve been asleep!
I missed it, when my ego crept in
and sowed all this junk in me.
I want to march through the field of my life
and tear out all the weeds.
I want to be better.
Now.
But, look how harsh I am,
judging myself.
My hands are full not of the fruit of love
but shame and a scythe.
Some of me that I am disappointed in
hides your blessing, wheat among the weeds.
Only you know the true fruits I bear.
I set aside my weapons.
I let go of accusing myself.
I accept myself as I am, weeds and wheat.
I trust you to glean the grain from my field
and remove the rest— gone, cleansed, burned forever!
May my peace and acceptance
be the seeds I sow for the next harvest.