Today’s scripture: Matthew 13:33 (ESV-text and audio) (KJV) (The Message) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (Carla Peck):
For me, Church on Sunday feels like the kingdom of heaven, at least as much as my human brain can comprehend what the kingdom of heaven may be like. I feel close to God when I am worshiping at Church during Sunday service, so that makes Church feel like the kingdom of heaven to me.
In today’s scripture, yeast is touched by hands and “mixed into” a large amount of flour. Imagine, if you will, that you are a small ingredient: yeast. As yeast, you encounter pressure, squeezing, and at times, even punching, from the hands kneading you through the flour, pushing you deep into the bowl, sometimes even scraping you alongside the bowl — all in the spirit of having you encounter as much flour as possible — so that you and the flour together can become dough. Once you (yeast) encounter a sufficient amount of flour, you, the flour and the hands mixing you and the flour together rest, then you (yeast) and the flour expand together to become dough. Although the flour is much bigger than you, the flour cannot become dough until you (the yeast) arrives.
On Sunday, some of us may feel like ingredients, such as yeast, when we walk into Church. We’ve been under pressure throughout the week, squeezed by juggling multiple priorities and deadlines, even punched with unexpected events.
But, when all of us ingredients arrive at Church, something remarkable happens. Our journey, as ingredients, toward God and the kingdom of heaven is awakened by flour: the sounds of singing, scripture reading and prayer; the words to song and scripture; hearing the inspiring word (and the jokes) spoken by pastor during the sermon and seeing key points on the wall; the words of children that warm our hearts during the children’s sermon; the taste of holy communion; the opportunities listed in the bulletin for service, growth, and connection with other ingredients; the rhythm of music; welcoming new ingredients; kind words to other ingredients; offering our gifts and resources; and the spirit of worshiping in community. As ingredients, we have the blessed opportunity to focus on mixing with all the flour that is presented to us in so many ways during worship, so that we can experience the closeness of God and a piece of the kingdom of heaven here on earth.
Prayer for the day: God, I choose, with your help, to think about the opportunities I have to be an ingredient that makes earth a little more like the kingdom of heaven. Thank you for the joy that you have given me. Amen.
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the guidelines on the How to Pray page.