Sunday the Eighth Week of Pentecost

July 23, 2023Today's Reading: Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43Daily Lectionary: Joshua 23:1-16, Acts 12:1-25But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, “Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.”’  (St. Matthew 13:29-30)In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Life is challenging for the faithful, confessing Christian. If only all the distractions and wicked people could be rooted up, life would be so much easier! If only Almighty God would allow his holy angels to rip the unbelievers and haters out of our lives, then we could live in peace and harmony!But would getting rid of all the ‘bad’ sinners make life for us easier? Of course not. We  forget that each and every one of us is a sinner, too. We don’t want to admit it, and we close our eyes to the truth of it, but getting rid of the ‘bad’ sinners would just lead to the ‘not-so-bad’ sinners making the list next. And then where are we? On a quest to purge everyone who isn’t holy enough from the world, just so we can be at peace; at least, what we think is peace.Our Lord and God is quite a bit smarter than us, thankfully. He sees the big picture, the telos, the end goal of all His work on earth given through His read and proclaimed Word, through His holy Sacraments, through the work of the Holy Spirit.Evil and sin has sown disastrous things among the people of this world, but it wouldn’t serve God’s purposes to prematurely purge it. In his overwhelming love, God allows things we don’t understand for the greater goal of his saving Gospel being proclaimed to more ears that will hear.He doesn’t want the faithful to be harmed in any way, so He allows the weeds among the wheat so that none of the wheat be harmed. Even though there are weeds all around, you still grow, safely and securely rooted in the Word and work of Christ for you.The living soil of God’s kingdom nourishes and sustains you until the day of harvest comes; then and only then, will you be gathered into the ‘barn’ He has prepared for you for all eternity. Sure, the weeds are all around, but you are planted solidly in God’s kingdom, safe there where his gifts come to you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.O God, so rule and govern our hearts and minds by Your Holy Spirit that, ever mindful of Your final judgment, we may be stirred up to holiness of living here and dwell with You in perfect joy hereafter; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. (Collect for the Sunday in the Eighth Week of Pentecost)-Pastor Duane Bamsch is the Pastor at Grace Lutheran Church in Grass Valley, CA  and the President of Higher Things.Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey.Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.