O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Gospel
Matthew 13:31-33,44-52

Jesus put before the crowds another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."

He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened."

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.   

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.   

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

"Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes." And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."

The Parable of Tall Trees and Other Perplexities III 

The kingdom of heaven...talk about perplexities.   

There is possibly no other subject in the entire "kingdom" of theological rhetoric so utterly and completely misunderstood as the subject of heaven.   We now have countless stories of individuals who have "after death" experiences.  Visions of joy, unspeakable peace, seeing friends and family who have passed on and the real common thread - light, lots of beautiful white light.   

*** Let me first give this disclaimer about my following comments:  The following thoughts are not necessarily endorsed or espoused by the Episcopal Church or the leadership of St. Matthews...They are personal to me and I only share them to give us something to ponder as we look at this week's Gospel passages. I am sure many would take theological issue to my personal comments and views.  As such, my views are not to be treated as an exhaustive theological treatise endorsed by the Episcopal Church but only as an expression of my personal experiences and understandings. ***

I will never forget the time I " accidentally" met the world famous psychic, Dr. George Anderson on Long Island in New York. At the time I had no clue who or what he was. We stood and talked about theology, life and general things. He never once mentioned to me in that conversation - anything - about his rare gift of "speaking to folks on the other side".  I later bought and devoured his books about his conversations with those who have died and are on "the other side".  He keeps a very low profile in New York City and is booked with appointments for many years to come. There is no doubt in my mind that this guy is for real - and there are many others like him around the world.   

I do not think it heretical to say that Jesus "knew" things - was he not the son of God...for heavens sake?!  

I am being facetious.   Perhaps he knew waaay more than he let on.  If he approached the crowds with some ability to bring messages to his listeners "from the other side" - surely they would have really freaked out, don't ya think?  I know I would.  Instead he used these perplexing analogies about heaven being like mustard seed, yeast, a hidden treasure, a merchant in search of pearls and baskets overflowing with fish...then he gets to the most poignant statements about angels "coming out" and separating the evil from the righteous and throwing them into a furnace of fire where "there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth".  Good lord! Reminds me of all the hell fire and brimstone sermons I have endured.

Brace yourself...most respected psychics do not support any theories about any division between "heaven and hell"...period.  They all agree that heaven is a place of rest and healing for saints, murderers, folks who have commited suicide, folks who were depressed, and just folks like you and me. Heaven is not far off somewhere - it is all around us - "the saints" are right here with us and as George Anderson believes - they see us and hear us...but they do not know our pain - they also seek individuals like him to speak with grieving relatives who are left behind. It is entirely up to you whether or not you believe all this.  I do...and have experienced some shockingly profound conversations "with the other side" on several occasions with the assistance of some pretty astounding mediums.  

We live in a skeptical, cynical and materialistic world.  We have not evolved as a human race to comprehend a mere fraction of the complexities of the universe and the spiritual realm. We are still playing "school yard" games with one another.  Leaders lack insight and wisdom. Technology and "spirituality" is moving faster than the human race can comprehend.  We now have the potential via the internet to interconnect as "one people" throughout the entire world and  circumvent all forms of media, authority and ignorance. 

One last thought - back in 1997 - I came across a book at a Borders book store in Dallas that was forecasting business trends and the general evolution of all things "earthly". I have long forgotten the name of the author and the book - but will never forget a paragraph in that book -  "within the next 15 to 20 years, every earthly institution and belief that has held this world together will literally disappear and be replaced by a new consciousness".

I Kings 3:12 ( from the OT reading for the day)  

"Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?"  It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you."  

...ponder that line in the collect for today - 

"that we may so pass through things temporal,  

that we lose not the things eternal."

...and the last line of the lesson...don't miss this -  

"Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes." And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure  

what is new and what is old."

...oh, and the last line of the text from the offertory listed below - 

                                                                                                 rdl 

Service Music For The Sixth Sunday After Pentecost

Prelude   "Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee" - Jim Brickman 

Entrance Hymn  550  

"Jesus Calls Us" 

Gloria In Excelsis  S 202 

Sequence  Hymn 690  

"Guide Me O thou Great Jehovah" 

Instrumental Offertory  "The Peace Of God" - Russell Schultz-Widmar

"They cast their nets in Galilee just off the hills of brown;
Such happy, simple fisherfolk before the Lord came down.
Contented, peaceful fishermen, before they ever knew
The peace of God that filled their hearts brimful, and broke them too.

Young John, who trimmed the flapping sail, homeless in Patmos died.
Peter, who hauled the teeming net, head down was crucified.

The peace of God, it is  no peace, but strife closed in the sod.
Yet let us pray for but one thing - the marvelous peace of God."

Text by William Alexander Percy (1885-1942) 

Sanctus  S 125

Fraction - "Seed Scattered and Sown"

 (printed in bulletin) 

Communion Hymn  304 

"I Come With Joy" 

Recessional Hymn  707 

"Take My Life and Let It Be" 

Closing Improvisation