In the back of The Chalice Hymnal there is a three year cycle that leads you through the Bible and through the hymnal over the course of those three years. The scripture readings also tie in, somewhat, to the weekly Lectionary from which I usually preach. SO-O-O, I’m going to begin an experiment of moving through that discipline of Scripture readings and hymns here on my blog. I would imagine that some days there will be some longer (and hopefully thought provoking) views on the days scripture reading. Other days it will probably just be the scripture reading and the hymn. Hope it is helpful to you on your journey. Let me know!
SCRIPTURE READING Matthew 13:18-23 (The Message)
The Meaning of the Harvest Story
18-19"Study this story of the farmer planting seed. When anyone hears news of the kingdom and doesn't take it in, it just remains on the surface, and so the Evil One comes along and plucks it right out of that person's heart. This is the seed the farmer scatters on the road.
20-21"The seed cast in the gravel—this is the person who hears and instantly responds with enthusiasm. But there is no soil of character, and so when the emotions wear off and some difficulty arrives, there is nothing to show for it.
22"The seed cast in the weeds is the person who hears the kingdom news, but weeds of worry and illusions about getting more and wanting everything under the sun strangle what was heard, and nothing comes of it.
23"The seed cast on good earth is the person who hears and takes in the News, and then produces a harvest beyond his wildest dreams."
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013:18-23&version=MSG
HYMN What Is This Place?
Tune: Komt Nu Met Zang
1. What is this place where we are meeting? Only a house, the earth its floor, walls and a roof sheltering people, windows for light an open door. Yet it becomes a body that lives when we are gathered here and know our God is near.
2. Words from afar stars that are falling sparks that are sown in us like seed. Names for our God, dreams, signs, and wonders sent from the past are what we need. We in this place remember and speak again what we have heard: God’s free redeeming word.
3. And we accept bread at this table, broken and shared, a living sign. Here in this world, dying and living, we are each other’s bread and wine. This is the place where we can receive what we need to increase: God’s justice and God’s peace.
There are those days! Days when we know we’re in a good place where we’re putting down deep roots and days when we know ourselves to be in rocky soil where there’s not much happening. I take comfort in knowing that Jesus recognizes all those different places we find ourselves – and did you notice, he doesn’t pass any judgment at all on the seeds?? Sometimes we can’t do much with the soil we find ourselves in, but we can learn that through God’s grace we can find those places where the soil is richer and deeper to help us bear the fruit God intends.
Penny and I are headed to Greensboro, NC to visit with some Facebook friends we’ve known online for almost 18-months but have never met in person. Ought to be a fun weekend!
God’s blessings on your journey!
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