July 16: The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

The Rev. Joseph Peters-Mathews is the vicar of St. Hilda St. Patrick. The sermon for July 16, 2023 was preached extemporaneously in response to Matthew 13:1-9,18-23 based on the notes below.

-Parables — meant to tease. Lots of possible interpretations
-Chapter full of them. What part doesn’t make sense?
-Jesus provides an interpretation but may not be the only interpretation
-Usual use of interpretation focuses on us. What kind of soil am I?
-But that makes sense and is easily explained
-Read parable again
-What doesn’t make sense? Gardeners and farmers, what’s wrong with this story?
-Sower doesn’t worry about where the seed lands! Montsano isn’t going to sue him for keeping extra. Reckless abandon.
-That’s God’s grace for us and how God shares the good news of God’s reign.
-Paul writing –> God sends Jesus to us, even though we might reject him. Even though he is rejected.
-Still defeats sin and death in the flesh, shaving creation from condemnation
-Sometimes we’re all kinds of soil — God still showers us with grace.
-30, 60, 100 fold? Sharing the good news. INviting people not worrying about rejection!

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