This week's gospel reading contains so many different images for the kingdom of heaven, that it's a bit dizzying. And yet, this is only a taste of the myriad of parables Jesus uses to describe the promised kingdom.
The kingdom of heaven is like…
… a mustard seed growing into a great shrub.
… yeast leavening bread.
… treasure hidden in a field.
… a merchant looking for pearls.
… a net thrown into the sea, separating good fish from bad.
There are things that are inexplicable, things that we just cannot find the words to explain, and yet we keep trying. How many love songs have been written, and how many poems? And yet poets and songwriters keep trying to define this thing called "love."
And so, throughout the gospels, and especially in Matthew, Jesus tries to put into human words this concept of the "kingdom of heaven." It's a beautiful, promised thing, and yet it is so difficult to put into words that make sense to us humans.
"Kingdom" is a word that has meant many things in many different times and places. Kingdoms have been as big as empires, or as small as local fiefdoms. They are historical reality, and the backdrop for our fantasies and fictions. Historically "kingdom" has meant protection, or it has meant colonialism and oppression.
"Heaven," too, is a word whose meaning and implications have changed and developed over years and cultures. There are a number of different ways that peoples, cultures, and religions have looked at the after life, and have tried to image it in human terms. Heaven is clouds and angels, or streets of gold, or the better place to be compared to hell…
And so to put these words together, "kingdom of heaven," even using our modern definitions, is still hard to understand. It makes sense that it would take so many different metaphors and parables to try to explain it. But then understanding the parables takes even more to understand.
The kingdom of heaven is like…
… a mustard seed growing into a great shrub: a tiny grain with the potential and hope of a great future, though "shrub" isn't as useful to society's ears as "tree" or "crop."
… yeast leavening bread: a small substance which gives rise to nourishment and sustenance, though not common or sought after to Jesus' hearers.
… treasure hidden in a field: riches well sought after and bringing joy, though you'll get dirty trying to find it.
… a merchant looking for pearls: the kingdom looks for us, giving all of itself to find us.
… a net thrown into the sea, separating good fish from bad: all are caught up in it.
I invite you to take all these images and see them not as contradictory, but as pieces of the puzzle. Like trying to define love, Jesus could not find the right words to describe the kingdom of heaven, but he tried, and continues to try. The Spirit speaks to us in the same way, trying over and over to express to us God's work and world, the kingdom of heaven.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
