Holy Aliveness!

Matthew 13:31-33 (NRSV)

He put before them 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.”

First, a quick note that Kingdom of Heaven is how Matthew phrases what Luke terms "Kingdom of God."

And now the parables.

These are two of my favorite parables of Jesus. I'm pretty sure I've talked about them here before.

We talked about them last night in the Bible Study group I lead at St. Paul's. We are reading Brian McLaren's We Make the Road By Walking. Last night the topic was "Kingdom of God," and I used these two parables as my favorite examples of how God's Kingdom works.

First, Brian McLaren used some other more current, modern words in place of Kingdom of God. Words like:

God's Beloved Community.

The Global Commonwealth of God

God's Regenerative Economy

and my favorite: Holy Aliveness!

But whatever term you use, that movement of God breaking in to our world is what stands out.

And why I love these parables is we see how clearly that movement works. Like a tiny mustard seed which becomes an invasive, territorial huge bush (really more than a tree), or how a loaf of bread is made bountiful and delicious by a small bit of rotted food, God invades us.

Bombards us.

Dares us to live.

We talked last night in our Bible Study about all the things that make us miss it. That cause us not to see it.

This Kingdom of Heaven that is invading.

But whether we miss it or not, it is there. Present. 

Inviting us - daring us - to live - fully live - in peace and community and aliveness.

Holy Aliveness.

Lord you are here! Your commonwealth of peace is here. The life you offer is here. Open my heart and my eyes to drink it all in! Amen