Scripture: Matthew 13:33
Jesus told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.”
Thought for the Day: I don’t know if it makes sense or not, but the parables seem to demystify the mystery that was hidden for everyone to see. Let that sit in your mind and roll around in your spirit for a while. After a few minutes you may call it nonsense, but for some strange reason it helps me get some perspective on the parables. First, to suggest that the Kingdom of heaven is like a woman who was kneading some dough would have been nonsense to many first century people, not only because Jesus was comparing the infinite with something so common and mundane as a woman kneading dough, but Jesus was also comparing the heavenly to a woman in a patriarchal culture. Yet Jesus dared to do what no one else would do – he demystified the mysterious nature of the kingdom of heaven without draining it of its power and beauty. By demystifying it, Jesus made it accessible without removing the wow factor. Jesus also used yeast and flour to reveal the nature of the kingdom, but not simply by the fact that they were very common household items. He used an absurd amount of flour (commentaries suggest “three measures” was anywhere from 40 – 80lbs.) to reveal something otherwise overlooked. It takes only a small, almost unnoticed amount of yeast, to cause the massive amount of flour to rise. For those of us who have glimpsed the kingdom of heaven in the work of the church – from service to prayer to hospitality – we known how just a little can make a world of difference. Or maybe I should say, it makes a kingdom of heaven difference. What do you think of parables demystifying the mystery that was hidden for everyone to see?
Prayer: O Spirit of the Kingdom, allow the yeast of divine love to raise within me a spirit that is capable of touching the lives of others. Amen.
THIS SUNDAY NIGHT
Plan to Attend
