Stepping Off

AM Psalm 61, 62 • PM Psalm 68:1-20(21-23)24-36
Neh. 12:27-31a,42b-47 • Rev. 11:1-19 • Matt. 13:44-52

I listened to Adelyn’s sermon Letting Go of Earthly Glory about the great divide between those who have been excluded, marginalized, and pushed aside in our society and those with glory, power and privilege. In today’s reading from Matthew, Jesus is using parables to teach a large crowd the very same thing. After he leaves the crowd, his disciples ask him to explain the parable of the seeds in the field. To explain, Jesus uses three more parables!

I admit—I understood the basic lesson of the three but was clueless to why Jesus spun off these one or two-sentence stories, one right after the other. Each one reiterated the-first-shall-be-last-and-the-last-shall-be-first teaching, just as Adelyn’s sermon had. But a footnote in the Access Bible hit me like a gong to the forehead: urgency. That’s the overarching thread in the three parables! Can you hear the urgency in each, and the urgency when strung together? Jesus might be saying What are you waiting for?

There will always be reasons why now isn’t the optimal time to start helping in a ministry or volunteering at a nonprofit or dedicating more time to prayer. There will always be a car repair or a shiny, new tech gadget or the dream of a vacation-getaway to make us hesitate in giving more financial support to St Paul’s or other charities. There are many reasons to wait but under the layers, aren’t we just afraid? Afraid of not having enough. Afraid of being left behind. Afraid to put ourselves last and raise up the excluded, the marginalized, the exploited to be first. Afraid of insecurity?

I am.

Stepping off from my safe harbor into the deep, swirling waters of faith and trust is the only way I can see to let go of the worldly glory and privilege that binds me and keeps me separated from others and from the pure love that is God.

This part of our morning Psalm 61 quiets the chattering and fearful insecurities in me. May it also bring you peace.

From the end of the earth I call to you,
when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock
that is higher than I;
for you are my refuge,
a strong tower against the enemy.
Let me abide in your tent forever,
find refuge under the shelter of your wings.

How beautiful, yes?!

Written by Bernadette Reda

Learning and grateful every day, and praying for the homeless and those affected by mental illness.