The Kingdom of Heaven Is Like a New York Deli - Proper 12A (July 26, 2026)

Send us Fan MailThe Kingdom of Heaven Is Like a New York DeliComedians with Pastors Talking Bible pairs Pittsburgh standup comedians with Lutheran pastors to read the week's lectionary gospel cold, with no preparation and no safety net. This week's a Short Take — no warm-up banter, just our Resident Comic Theologians Erick Williams (@comicaledubs), Abby Evans (@itsabbye) and the text.Jesus fires off five parables in a row, asks if the disciples understood, and they lie and say yes. This episode is our attempt at the honest answer — mustard shrubs, laundered treasure, and a pastrami sandwich all get pressed into service.Expect:A cold open that throws out somebody's back before the Bible even shows upThe kingdom of heaven compared to frozen pizza deals, food TV, and a very specific New York sandwichA serious detour into buried treasure, stolen property, and what grace has to do with eitherSourdough starters as an unplanned theology of things you don't fully control"By the way, is the kingdom of heaven just a New York City deli?"---Matthew 13:31–33, 44–52 (NRSVue)[31] He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; [32] it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” [33] He 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.”[44] “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and reburied; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. [45] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; [46] on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. [47] “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; [48] when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. [49] So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous [50] and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. [51] “Have you understood all this?” They answered, “Yes.” [52] And he said to them, “Therefore every scribe who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”Hosted by Pastor Eric Damon and Pastor Bob Schaefer.Join the community!Email us at [email protected] us at @cptbpod on most social media platforms.More at linktr.ee/cptbpodMusic: Trickster by Phat SoundsFree download: https://filmmusic.io/song/10864-tricksterLicensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-licenseScripture quotations are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.