Proper 6 B 2018 St Barnabas Warwick

Hawking’s grave has his great equation engraved upon it. And it’s wrong.

Newton’s grave is right next to Hawkins (as is Darwin’s) and Newton’s grave has his famous ideas encoded into it - and they’re wrong too.

But both were “right” at the time.

Parables: Hiding the truth in plain sight.

God is doing something - something right in front of our eyes, but we mostly don’t notice it - or if we do - we misunderstand it. (Like how seeds grow, but we don’t really fully understand the mechanism, even today.)

It’s the same way with the parables that Jesus tells.

Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year B, Volume 3 Pastoral Perspective

In Mark there is no admonition that we should develop faith the size of a mustard seed; it is, plain and simple, about the kingdom that provides saving space way beyond our imagining. The parable is not about us, but about the grace of God; and yet we “overhear” in these compacted stories so much about what pertains to human reception of the good news of salvation.

The Disciples knew the underlying truth - though it was hidden from others. Why?

“Jesus told so many parables he became one”...

Tertullian - it would be a mistake to imagine that the descendents of the Apostles didn’t know the essential truth of the faith. (Critique of the reformers of his day.)

Bible based faith leads us astray

We often miss the subtle allusions: the note played that refers to something the disciples, steeped in scripture, would recognize, but which we, in a different context, miss.

Mark for Everyone More Seed Parables (Mark 4:26–34)

And at the end it will be a royal kingdom like those spoken of in scripture. The other echo, the other note in the chord, comes at the end of the story: the birds of the air make their nests in its shade. Ezekiel and Daniel both use this as an image of a great kingdom, growing like a tree until those around can shelter under it (Ezekiel 17:23; 31:6; Daniel 4:12–21).

Tradition based faith leads us astray

Look at the rise of the cult of the relics...

Hence the need for a bible based reformation.

Truth is found in conversation -

Truth is multifaceted, and timeless, and can not be claimed by any particular group or historical moment.

Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year B, Volume 3 Pastoral Perspective

John Calvin is right in reminding us that God speaks to us in language we can understand. At the same time the mystery and the reality of the saving realm and reign of God continue to be beyond every human reality we know.

Episcopalians know this - and treasure it.

Hooker’s three strand rope (not really a stool, something more.)