Matthew 13: 24-30
24 He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom
of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds
among the wheat, and then went away.
There is a misguided desire for us to be part of
pure communities where we all believe the exact same thing and live the exact
same way; to be a community of clones not disciples. This stifles creativity,
suppresses diversity and denies inclusivity. The authentic community of
disciples will have people and practices that challenge our commitment to
diversity; Jesus advises us that the practice of tolerance, compassion,
forgiveness and inclusivity does not mean we will be overcome by heresy or
false teaching; it means we will demonstrate to the surrounding culture that it
is possible and indeed desirable to live in peace with those we don’t agree
with and find challenging. The present expression of the Kingdom of God is a
diverse place; one day when the Kingdom comes to full maturity all that is
worth keeping will be obvious to all of creation; these practices and
principles will last, the rest of our practices and misunderstandings will
simply slip into history. As we meet in community today, value diversity,
celebrate inclusion and look forward to the hope of being transformed by the
teachings and practices of Jesus of the Nazareth Sermon.
Prayer: Loving God and Father teach us to value your
word and the people you have placed in our lives and teach us how to live as
faithful disciples of Jesus your Son through the power of your indwelling Holy
Spirit and for your glory. Amen
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