Matthew 13: 31-33, Christianity Incubated — Jim Burklo, USA

Pentecost 8, Year A

Matthew 13: 31-33

Let us prepare our souls to receive the sacred myth of scripture.

Breathe deep, keep a moment of silence; release any preconceptions you might have about the meaning of the passage, open your heart to new revelations that may arise.

Then read the text aloud:

Jesus put before them another parable: ‘The realm of God is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in their field; 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.’ Jesus told them another parable: ‘The realm of God is like yeast that was taken and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.’   –Matthew 13: 31-33, adapted from the NRSV

Let the seed of scripture sink into the soil of your soul.
Let the yeast of scripture knead its way into every fibre of your being.
Let holy mystery, enveloped by scripture, incubate within you until it transforms you as you most need to be transformed….
Open your heart to the mustard seed.
Let it drop all the way in.
Water it with time and contemplation.
Make way in your soul for the pinch of yeast.
Warm it with open, mindful, prayerful attention.
Let it be whatever it is, on its terms.
Wait for it to do whatever it does within you.
May the delicious aroma of fresh bread rise from the sacred story planted deep within you.
May birds of the air make nests in that which sprouts from your incubated Christianity…

Read the passage aloud again.

Let the seed of scripture sink into the soil of your soul.
Let the yeast of scripture knead its way into every fibre of your being.
Let holy mystery, enveloped by scripture, incubate within you until it transforms you as you most need to be transformed….
Open your heart to the mustard seed.

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