Reverend Jimmy Moore, preaching
Matthew 13:24-30
What if a Weed is but an Unloved Flower
How are we to deal with things that are going badly in our personal life, family, or in our larger society? You’re pretty sure you know what the “good” should look like, but there are things in plain view that are clearly broken. What should we do?
Here’s one approach: “Patience is a virtue.” We’ve all heard that one. Shakespeare said it with greater flourish when he wrote, “How poor are they that have not patience! What wound did ever heal but by degrees?” So…take your time, right?
But we also know that whether you are a parent or a leader of an organization, you can’t always afford to wait. As Dr. King wrote in the Letter from the Birmingham Jail, “For years now I have heard the word ‘Wait!' But there comes a time when the cup of endurance runs over, and men are no longer willing to be plunged into the abyss of despair. I hope, sirs, you can understand our legitimate and unavoidable impatience.”
Once Jesus told a story about a farmer who, when informed that there were weeds growing in the wheat crop, resisted the field workers’ suggestion that they go in and remove the weeds. The farmer instead urged patience, and told them to leave the weeds in place until the harvest. Attempting to move the “weeds” would cause harm to the “wheat.”
The story evokes questions. Why would Jesus tell a story urging patience? Do we really know that a weed looks like? Do “wheat” and “weed” represent people?
We’ll talk about this and more in the Sunday sermon, which is titled, “What if a Weed Is But an Unloved Flower,” arising from Matthew 13:24-30. We’ll sing hymns, have a moment for children, spend some time in prayer, and have a biblical reading from Tom Shafer. In addition to our Sunday morning musicians, we will be joined by Suyeon Ko, a wonderful flautist who has graced our Sunday worship services several times before.
We look forward to connecting with you on the live stream on Sunday morning. Go to www.smumc.church for the 10:30 service.