Sermon on The kingdom of God

Mark 4:26-32

The Parable of the Growing Seed

 He also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

 He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’

Brothers and sisters, grace to you and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

          The kingdom of God is very important in all of the gospels, and it seems to be especially important for Mark; in fact, the first words that come out of the mouth of Jesus in Mark’s gospel are “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”  The kingdom of God has come near.  This is “the good news of God,” that the kingdom of God is at hand.  But what does that mean?  What exactly is the kingdom of God?  How do we know it is here?  In answering this question, we tend to look for evidence of God’s kingdom, either outside in the world around us, or inside ourselves. 

When we look at the world, we look for evidence that the world is getting better, and in some ways it seems to be.  In the last hundred years, we have seen increasing equality in this country.  For example, in the women’s suffrage movement of the early part of the 20^th century and the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s.  Worldwide, the harsh colonialism of the west has been largely dismantled and several longstanding and oppressive dictators have been ousted through the liberation movements of the “Arab Spring.”  But as we look around, we can’t help but see that things aren’t all coming up roses.  The 20^th century saw some of the deadliest atrocities committed in the history of humankind.  The economic crisis which began in 2008 has revealed the tremendous inequality of the distribution of this nation’s wealth.  What’s more, many of the successes of the Arab spring have given way to more turmoil and violence, rather than bringing peace and justice.  It doesn’t seem like the kingdom of God is at hand. 

So, when we give up on finding the kingdom of God in the world around us, we turn inward to find it in ourselves.  We tell ourselves that the kingdom of God isn’t of this world; it doesn’t consist of governments or laws.  The kingdom of God is found in the people of God, after all.  So, as good Lutherans in Lent, we hunker down and examine ourselves.  On some days it seems that God moving in us and using us.  On other days it seems there’s no way he could be present in such corruption.  Most days we really can’t tell, if we think about it at all.  But remember that verse from the beginning of Mark.  Jesus proclaims: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.”  Since Jesus proclaims that the kingdom of God is here, so must I. 

So here I am to tell you, the kingdom of God is indeed at hand.  It is here, now, in this very room with us.  It is in us, it is all around us, there is no escaping it.  And let me tell you something else; you are not worthy of it.  I'm not worthy of it.  We haven't properly prepared for it.  We don't have what it takes.  You don't have to take a very long look at yourself to realize that you've fallen short.  I'm not even sure I was ever really headed in the right direction.  I've always found the pull of my own self-interest practically irresistible.  So here we are, trying to figure out how we can bring about the kingdom of God in such a corrupt world, trying to figure out how to get over our selfishness and live into that kingdom—frankly, it seems hopeless.  But in our hopelessness, Jesus breaks in and tells us it’s already here.  It’s not about being prepared, no, it’s already here.  How can we make sense of it?  The kingdom is here?  Really?  I can’t see it, I’m certainly not living like it’s here, and as far as I can tell, neither is anyone else.  I mean, certainly that is what Paul means when he says “There is no one who is righteous, not even one.”  So what nonsense is this that the kingdom of God is at hand?

          In our gospel reading today, Jesus gives us two pictures of the kingdom of God that may help.  First, Jesus tells us that the kingdom of God is like seeds that are scattered on the ground.  Nobody tends them, yet still they grow up. “First the stalk, then the head, and then the full grain in the head,” and finally they are harvested, just as they were always meant to be.  Apparently, the kingdom of God comes despite our poor and inadequate tending of it.  Then Jesus gives us another picture:  the kingdom is like that mustard seed, a tiny speck of a seed.  But when it grows up it becomes the greatest of all shrubs.  Now, a shrub may not be what we had envisioned for ourselves, but it is what God has envisioned for us, and he knows better than any of us what our purpose is.  This shrub, as unimpressive as it may be, provides shade and shelter for the birds of the air.  It stretches itself to provide safe space for others.  While we want something more like the tall and proud cedars of Lebanon, God knows better.  God aims to keep us humble, constantly giving and receiving ourselves in community.

          So, what do we do now?  Now that we have some idea of what God’s kingdom is like, are we to bring it about?  Are we to grow ourselves and each other into the kind of people God wants us to be?  Well, no.  We’re terrible gardeners.  The more we focus on ourselves, the less we are fit to be in the kingdom of God, and we only make things worse the harder we try.  There is nothing we can do to bring this growth about.

So do we just sit and wait?  No, because instead of leaving you here in your helplessness.  Jesus comes to you.  He comes to you through the good gifts of creation, the warmth of the sun, the grain of the fields, the love of friends, family and even strangers. He comes to you through the waters of baptism, through the bread and the wine.  He comes to you in the words of Holy Scriptures, and in the words I am speaking to you right now.  He comes to you and he gives you something.  Something stronger and better and more sure than anything in all creation.  He gives you a promise.  He makes you a promise.  He tells you that he has chosen you.  You are destined for the kingdom.  Jesus Christ himself has claimed you, without asking permission or waiting for you to be good enough.  No, he took charge and planted a seed of faith inside of you.  And as you sleep and rise night and day, the seed sprouts and grows, whether you know it or not.  This seed is tiny, insignificant, undetectable even.  But it's there, even when it seems it isn't.  But Jesus doesn't stop there.  He is promising you even more than that.  He doesn't just leave it at a seed.  He tells you that tiny, insignificant seed will blossom and grow and stretch out its branches.  It will even provide shelter for others to make nests in its shade.  But you don't have to wait for some far off day in the future when the growth is finally complete.  No, God made you a promise, and the promises of God are more real and more certain than anything else.  As Paul says: "I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work among you will bring it to completion by the day of Jesus Christ."  This is no far off, future reality.  By the work of Jesus Christ, God has brought that reality to you now.  The kingdom of God is at hand.  Through faith in God's promise, you are there.  You have arrived.  Now you can go out and spread your branches.  You are free, completely and totally.  There is no longer anything to fear, for you have in your possession the most real thing.  There is nothing that can stop you now.  You can provide shelter for each other without fear, you can rely on each other when you are weak, you can carry this promise that is now your reality out into the world, to those who so desperately need to hear it.  Instead of worrying about bringing the kingdom into the world or yourself, you are now free to simply be the kingdom as the body of Christ.  That is your identity; it is who you are.  That is what God created you to be.  And God always gets his way.   Amen.