A gardener. A cook. A ‘Detectorist’. A merchant. Stories (parables) that help our understanding of the Kingdom of God. Jesus is using real world examples and, though at first we would think that objects in the story are unrelated to each other, they are not. The common element is that small things – acting out our belief in our small corner – lead to great things. We are told about the mustard seed, and learn that no matter how small our actions, when we offer ourselves as servants, bringing comfort to the poor, the lonely, the ill, the oppressed, sufferers of injustice, people who are different, we are one step further to the Kingdom, come.

We are to be yeast – very small amounts needed, and invisible in the bread, but without that yeast the bread won’t rise. A small act of kindness in Jesus’ name, brings a ray of light in an angry world.

The treasure is there – it just needs to be found. We search for truth, and realise that Jesus is the truth; the way; and the life. But we don’t find God – He finds us, and we simply have to welcome Him. And when we do, we joyously leave our old life and its values behind, and become the new creation He offers.

A sermon might end there with a challenge: however small, being a seed; however unrewarded or unrecognised, being yeast; to accept Jesus into our lives forsaking the world, in the knowledge that from tiny acorns, a great oak grows. Essentially, to love as we are commanded.

But we also need to realise that to ignore our call to act is not just indifference, but actually dangerous. The Covid-19 virus was small, but killed hundreds of thousands. To fail to love, even in small ways, is to allow evil to flourish

Let us pray

Jesus said ‘Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking; if you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you with me’. (Revelation 3:20)

As we turn to you O Lord, let our worship be a new beginning – cleanse us with your mercy – draw us deeper into your love and accept our offering of praise and prayer. We offer our prayers on behalf of a troubled world. Through your son, our brother and our Saviour. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Loving Father, help us when burdens weigh heavily – renew us with your streams of living water, so that we might serve you with our whole hearts. In the strength of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.

We give thanks for your goodness – for our lives so rich in your blessings; for the beauty of the earth and the changing seasons, for the wonders of nature that remind us of your majesty. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

We thank you for the gift of life – every day providing so many opportunities to serve you -to shine as light in the darkness and to follow the example, set by Jesus, of obedience in our service to others. Forgive us when we let you down, when we are thoughtless or selfish and when we forget to love and serve others.

Help us when we need direction or when we face difficult choices and decisions. Thank you for our families and friends and help us serve others in the communities we represent.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

A prayer of St Augustine of Hippo (354-430)

Almighty God, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless till they find rest in you. Grant us purity of heart and strength of purpose, that no selfish passion may hinder us from knowing your will, and no weakness hinder us from doing it; but that in your light we may see light and in your service find our perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Go in peace, to love and praise the Lord and all His creation, giving thanks for the blessings of tomorrow – and the day after, then the day after that, and all your days. In the name of Christ. Amen

For meditation and prayer

Read each of the following Bible quotes out loud and then for a couple of silent moments, consider what it speaks to you personally

Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. Proverbs 14:29

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 1 Corinthians 13:4-5

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:25

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. Proverbs 16:32

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Psalm 37:7

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. Exodus 14:14

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had. Romans 15:5

In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. Psalm 5:3

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. 1 Timothy 1:16

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2

The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”’

Go in peace, to love and praise the Lord and all His creation, giving thanks for the blessings of tomorrow – and the day after, then the day after that, and all your days. In the name of Christ. Amen.

As part of a social experiment, Londoners were offered up to £50 with no strings attached by a person in the street. Only three out of ten people approached took up the generous offer.

Two men in suits were approached and offered £20, but they were sceptical about the motive behind the offering, immediately responding: “What have you got to do for it?” Another group of men who were offered cash were also cynical and asked “what’s the catch?”, while a man offered a £50 note simply said “No, I don’t want it.”
London Evening Standard, 20/8/2015

I suspect the reason behind that (true) story is that our lack of trust has been learned the hard way though experiences of being betrayed. So we look for a motive. We know the phrases – ‘There’s no such thing as a free lunch’. ‘You never get something for nothing’. ‘If something looks too good to be true, it probably is’

We also know the hymn ‘Gentle Jesus, meek and mild’. Yes He certainly is, but not all the time. In today’s Gospel we see a rather different Jesus – ‘Irritated Jesus, frustrated and annoyed’. People have heard Him speak. He has healed many. They have seen Him perform miracles. He invites them to rejoice. He offers forgiveness.

And they turn away.

Perhaps you can’t totally blame them – they have heard prophets before who have promised them wealth and success, but haven’t delivered – In many cases, leaving people robbed of everything they have.

So they want to know Jesus’ motive – and when they hear that simply out of love for them, He freely offers freedom, they refuse to accept Him.

‘What do I have to do to be free?’, they ask. What will it cost me?

Just believe, He says. I’ll buy it for you. On a cross.

What then are we to say??? Paul’s rhetorical question offers a response to the previous chapter 5, (specifically 5:20 ‘where sin increases, grace abounds all the more’) in which he proclaims that God’s Grace in Jesus is the response to human sin. He wonders whether when people accept this, and particularly when they hear elsewhere that they have to forgive others seventy times seven, that they will think that they may just as well keep on sinning because their sin will be forgiven every time. In fact, the greater the sin, the greater the forgiveness. In that case, the prodigal son may as well come home bringing his washing for his Mum, enjoy the fattened calf for dinner and then clear off to his previous life again.

Paul addresses the concern that by claiming salvation through grace alone, people will simply behave as they pleased without any moral constraint. Through the years, theologians have struggled with this – Martin Luther even had a name for those who believed it – he called it ‘antinomianism’.

In response he said that the Christian way of life post-Baptism is a process of growing throughout our lives, being simultaneously both sinner and saint, continually taking three steps forward, two steps back. Paul describes this as dying to sin and being born again in Christ. In Him, we are aware of our sin and its consequences.

The argument is complex, and the discussion continues. However, when it comes down to it in our day-to-day lives, it is quite simple. When we are baptised in Christ, washed free of our past, we have the opportunity of starting again. We try – and will inevitably fail. But that mustn’t stop us trying.

Peter. Fisherman. Impetuous, always speaking his mind and acting on impulse. Rock on whom the church was founded.
James son of Zebedee. Another fisherman
John. Brother of James. Both known as the ‘Sons of Thunder’
Andrew. Peter’s brother. The first to be called by Jesus.
Philip. Probably Greek-speaking. Brings Nathaniel to Jesus.
Bartholomew??
Matthew. Tax collector – member of One of the most reviled professions in first-century Judaism. Matthew collected taxes for Rome from his fellow Jews in Capernaum.
Thomas – ‘Doubting’ Thomas? Or ‘Practical’ Thomas?
James son of Alphaeus??
Thaddeus also known as Jude the apostle.
Simon the Zealot. may have belonged to a Jewish sect known as the Zealots, who were bent on revolution and looking for a Messiah to violently overthrow Rome. Or he may have simply been zealous for the Mosaic Law. Or zealous for Jesus and his teachings.
Judas Iscariot. The betrayer. Many different opinions on his motives. In art, usually depicted wearing yellow clothing and with red hair

What a bunch. Fishermen. A tax collector. A terrorist. A sceptic. Couple of hotheads. Not sure they’re the ones I’d pick, if I were Jesus. Not even sure they’re entirely trustworthy. Surely it would be more effective to go for celebrities – people who are well known and who could act as ‘influencers’?

Well, actually, no. The Gospel isn’t a fashion accessory. It’s real, and it needs real people to proclaim it. Jesus doesn’t choose people for their looks – He is interested in picking the right ones to do the job and to initiate the word being spread abroad. He chose ‘ordinary’ (actually, no-one is ‘ordinary’ as far as Jesus is concerned) people who would be believed by their friends and neighbours – in turn they would spread the word to their own contacts, and so on in turn. To use a current term – going ‘viral’.

Someone once asked who would be the best person to talk about Jesus to a lorry driver. To which the answer is ‘another lorry driver’.

Who would be the best person to talk to your friends and family about Jesus?

You.