MATTHEW 13:24-30 | COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME

COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME

MATTHEW 13:24-30

NOVEMBER 20, 2016

THIS IS A STRANGE SUNDAY IN THE CHRISTIAN YEAR.  IT IS THE LAST SUNDAY OF THE CHRISTIAN YEAR, AS NEXT SUNDAY IS THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT, AND THUS THE BEGINNING OF A NEW CHRISTIAN YEAR.

YOU SEE, IN THE CHRISTIAN CALENDAR, THE LITURGICAL YEAR RUNS FROM THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT – THE PERIOD LEADING UP TO CHRISTMAS TO TODAY – TO WHAT IS KNOWN AS CHRIST THE KING SUNDAY.

IT IS MEANT TO BE A SUNDAY WHEN THE CHURCH HONORS AND CELEBRATES THE REIGN OF CHRIST AS KING OF HEAVEN AND EARTH; RULER AND SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.

FEW OF US, I AM GUESSING, AND EVEN FEWER OF THOSE IN THE GENERAL PUBLIC HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT TODAY IS; OR ARE REMOTELY AWARE THAT TODAY’S THE DAY WE CELEBRATE THE KINGSHIP OF CHRIST.

IT ALSO HAPPENS TO BE THE SUNDAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING, WITH EVERYONE ANTICIPATING THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, AND THE KICKOFF OF THE CHRISTMAS SEASON.  IT’S WHY WE ARE SINGING ALL THESE GREAT THANKSGIVING HYMNS THIS MORNING.

TODAY OUGHT TO BE A DAY OF DOUBLE THANKSGIVING – THANKFUL THAT CHRIST IS KING; AND THANKFUL FOR THANKSGIVING AND OUR COUNTRY’S CELEBRATION OF ITS HISTORY.

BUT FOR MANY OF US, AND I WOULD SAY TO SOME DEGREE OR ANOTHER, ALL OF US, WE DON’T FEEL MUCH LIKE GIVING THANKS.

OPEN ANY NEWSPAPER AND YOU WILL GET A FULL DOSE OF HOW AWFUL THINGS ARE.  LISTEN TO ANY NEWS PROGRAM AND YOU WILL BE HORRIFIED BY THE HORRORS SURROUNDING US.

WHETHER THE TOPIC IS THE NATION, THE WORLD, THE CHURCH, THE ENVIRONMENT, THE ECONOMY, THE CONSENSUS SEEMS TO BE THAT THINGS ARE BAD AND GETTING WORSE.

IN FACT, IT IS THE ONLY THING MANY OF US CAN AGREE UPON;

AND EVEN THEN, WE DISAGREE ABOUT WHAT THINGS ARE BAD, HOW THEY GOT THIS WAY, WHO’S TO BLAME, AND WHAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO DO TO MAKE THINGS BETTER.

IT IS, AS THE APOSTLE PAUL POINTS OUT IN ONE OF HIS WRITINGS, AS IF THE WHOLE OF CREATION IS GROANING.

THOSE OF US WHO BELIEVE IN GOD HAVE A HARD TIME EXPLAINING – TO OURSELVES OR ANYONE ELSE – WHY THINGS ARE THE WAY THEY ARE.

IN THE MEANTIME, ALL OF US WRESTLE WITH A WORLD THAT IS MESSIER THAN WE WOULD LIKE IT TO BE.

AND WE WONDER, JUST WHAT IT IS THAT CHRIST IS KING OF?

AND IF KING, WHY HE DOESN’T DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT; AND WHY, IF GOD IS IN CHARGE, ISN’T THE WORLD IN BETTER SHAPE THAN IT IS?!

AND THEN SOMEONE TELLS US WE NEED TO BE THANKFUL – BECAUSE IT’S THANKSGIVING, AND CHRISTMAS, AND ANOTHER NEW YEAR, AND ANOTHER CHANCE TO MAKE EVERYTHING NEW AGAIN!

BUT DEEP DOWN – THAT’S NOT HOW WE FEEL.

SOMETHING OF THIS AMBIVALENCE IS WHAT, IRONICALLY, OUR CLOSING HYMN, AND TITLE OF THIS MORNING’S SERMON, IS ALL ABOUT.  COME YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME.

THE FIRST VERSE IS THANKFUL ENOUGH – THANKING GOD FOR THE HARVEST; FOR HOME; FOR GOD’S PROTECTIVE CARE AGAINST THE WINTER’S STORMY BLASTS ABOUT TO COME; THANKING GOD AS OUR MAKER AND PROVIDER – WE OUGHT TO BE THANKFUL, AND AT SOME LEVEL WE ARE.

THE SECOND VERSE IS ABOUT EVANGELISM.  THAT ALL THE WORLD IS GOD’S FERTILE FIELD, AND THAT AS THOSE WHO BELIEVE ALREADY, IT’S UP TO US TO HELP BRING IN THE HARVEST OF SOULS; TO BRING NEW BELIEVERS TO CHRIST.

THE THIRD VERSE IS ABOUT THE FINAL JUDGMENT; GOD’S SEPARATING THE WHEAT (THE BELIEVERS) FROM THE TARES (THE UNBELIEVERS); BURNING THE TARES IN ETERNAL FLAMES, WHILE GATHERING IN THE HARVEST OF BELIEVERS, THE WHEAT, INTO GOD’S ETERNAL STOREHOUSE.

AND THE FINAL VERSE IS ABOUT CHRIST’S RETURN; ABOUT THE END OF THE WORLD;

AND A PRAYER THAT THE END MIGHT COME QUICKLY – SAVING US FROM MORE PAIN, AND SIN, AND SORROW, AND LOSS – SO THAT WE MIGHT BE FOREVER PURIFIED IN THE PRESENCE OF ALMIGHTY GOD, AND GATHERED INTO THE FINAL HARVEST HOME OF HEAVEN, FOREVER.

I HOPE I HAVEN’T JUST RUINED THAT THANKSGIVING HYMN FOR SOME OF US, WHO, PERHAPS, NEVER PAID MUCH ATTENTION TO THE WORDS – BECAUSE THERE’S STILL PLENTY HERE FOR WHICH TO BE THANKFUL;

BUT THEN AGAIN, THE HYMN, LIKE THE WORLD, GIVES US MUCH PAUSE FOR THOUGHT; AND BRINGS INTO QUESTION, AGAIN, JUST HOW IT IS THAT WE ARE TO GIVE THANKS AMIDST ALL OF THAT.

BY THE WAY, AND I GUESS YOU FIGURED THIS OUT BY NOW, THE HYMN, COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME IS BASED UPON OUR SCRIPTURE READING FOR THIS MORNING; ON JESUS’ PARABLE OF THE WHEAT AND TARES.

OF COURSE, IN JESUS’ PARABLE, JESUS IS HONEST ABOUT THE FACT THAT THE WHEAT (THE RIGHTEOUS) AND THE TARES (THE UNRIGHTEOUS) GROW UP SIDE BY SIDE IN THE FIELD THAT IS THE WORLD.

HOW IT GOT THIS WAY, NO ONE KNOWS, IT JUST SORT OF SEEMED TO HAPPEN NATURALLY;

AND BY WHAT WE KNOW OF OURSELVES, IF WE ARE HONEST, AND WHAT WE KNOW OF OTHERS, IT’S NO SURPRISE THAT THERE IS GOOD AND NOT-SO-GOOD IN US, AND IN THE WORLD, AT LARGE.

IN JESUS’ PARABLE THE WORKERS ASK THE BOSS IF HE WANTS THEM TO GO OUT AND TEAR OUT ALL THE WEEDS – THE TARES – BUT THE BOSS, SURPRISINGLY, ANSWERS “NO”.

I WONDER WHY…?

WELL, IN THE FIRST PLACE THE BOSS KNOWS THAT IF THEY GO OUT THERE IN THE WORLD WITH A VENGEANCE, WILLY-NILLY TEARING OUT THE WEEDS OF THE WORLD, THEY WILL UNDOUBTEDLY UPROOT THE WHEAT AS WELL, SO BETTER TO LET THEM GROW UP TOGETHER UNTIL THE END – WHEN THE BOSS CAN DO THE SEPARATING.

SECONDLY, I THINK THE BOSS IS HESITANT TO LET THE WORKERS GO ABOUT THE BUSINESS OF TEARING OUT THE WEEDS BECAUSE, WELL, BECAUSE THE WHEAT AND THE WEEDS LOOK AN AWFUL LOT ALIKE AT TIMES, AND THEY MIGHT JUST MISTAKENLY TEAR OUT SOMETHING THEY THINK IS A WEED, WHEN IT’S WHEAT.

LET ME STOP FOR A MOMENT AND LET YOU THINK ABOUT THAT.

SAY YOU WERE IN CHARGE – WHO WOULD YOU GET RID OF?  WHO’S ON YOUR HIT LIST?  WHERE WOULD YOU DRAW THE LINE BETWEEN THE WHEAT AND THE WEEDS?

AS A NATION, WE JUST SPENT THE BETTER PART OF TWO YEARS FIGHTING OVER A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION; CHOOSING UP SIDES; CREATING OUR HIT LISTS; OUR HATE LISTS; DECIDING WHO’S WITH US AND WHO’S AGAINST US; AND WE, AND OUR NATION, ARE WORSE FOR THE WEAR, OF IT.

SO, WHICH WEEDS WOULD YOU PULL OUT?  WHICH WHEAT WOULD YOU LEAVE TO GROW?

SEE WHY THE BOSS TOLD THE WORKERS “NO” IT WASN’T THEIR JOB TO WEED THE GARDEN?!

FINALLY, UNLIKE REAL WHEAT AND REAL WEEDS, SINCE THIS PARABLE IS ABOUT PEOPLE, AND THE WORLD, AND THE KINGDOM OF GOD, ONE OF THE REASONS THE BOSS TELLS THE WORKERS “NO” LET THE WHEAT AND THE WEEDS GROW TOGETHER, IS BECAUSE THE BOSS KNOWS:

THAT SOMETIMES, WHAT STARTS OUT AS A WEED, WHAT STARTS OUT AS UNBELIEVING, UNRIGHTEOUS, HAS A WAY OF BECOMING BEAUTIFUL WHEAT.

AND SOMETIMES, SOMETHING THAT APPEARS TO BE WHEAT, IS NOTHING MORE THAN A WEED IN WHEAT’S CLOTHING.

AND NOT ONLY THAT, BUT A GOOD MANY OF US ARE A HYBRID – WEED/WHEAT;

AND THE BOSS KNOWS THAT THE LONGER HE LETS US GROW, THE LONGER HE HAS TO CONVINCE US TO BE MORE WHEAT THAN WEED;

AND THE BETTER THE CHANCE FOR US TO GROW INTO SOMETHING GOOD.

AFTER ALL, ISN’T THAT MUCH OF WHAT CHRISTIANITY IS ABOUT?

THE SOW’S EAR BECOMING A SILK PURSE; THE PRODIGAL RETURNING HOME; ZACCHAEUS TURNING FROM CHEATING TAX COLLECTOR INTO ARDENT FOLLOWER; DOUBTING THOMAS BECOMING THOMAS THE TRUE DISCIPLE; PETER THE PETULANT, BECOMING THE ROCK ON WHICH CHRIST BUILDS HIS CHURCH.

TRANSFORMATION, CONVERSION, RESURRECTION – ONE THING BECOMING SOMETHING ELSE; ONE FLAWED THING BECOMING ONE PERFECT CREATION;

THAT’S WHAT CHRISTIANITY IS ALL ABOUT.

“NO,” THE BOSS SAYS, “LET THE WHEAT AND THE WEEDS GROW TOGETHER UNTIL THE TIME OF THE HARVEST COMES – THEN WE’LL DEAL WITH IT.

AND THANK BOSS, THANK GOD, THAT THAT IS GOD’S ANSWER FOR OUR LIVES!

NOW THAT’S SOMETHING FOR WHICH TO BE THANKFUL!

EVERY YEAR ABOUT THIS TIME PEOPLE, FAMILIES, BEGIN TO BELIEVE THAT THIS WILL BE THE YEAR THAT THEY’LL FINALLY GET IT TOGETHER.

THIS WILL BE THE YEAR THAT THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS WILL LOOK LIKE A NORMAN ROCKWELL PAINTING; THAT OUR FAMILY WILL RESEMBLE THE SORTS OF FAMILIES WE SEE ON THE PUBLIX SUPERMARKET COMMERCIALS.

WHEN I DIRECTED A CRISIS HOTLINE AND COUNSELING CENTER YEARS AGO WE WOULD GET CALLS LEADING UP TO THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS, HOPEFUL EXPECTANT, ANTICIPATORY, THAT THIS WOULD BE THE YEAR EVERYONE IN THE FAMILY WOULD GET ALONG;

THIS WOULD BE THE YEAR THAT BROTHER AND SISTER, ESTRANGED FOR YEARS, WOULD FINALLY MAKE UP;

THIS WOULD BE THE YEAR THAT NO ONE IN THE FAMILY WOULD GET DRUNK AND MAKE A SCENE; THE YEAR THE PRODIGAL CHILD WOULD RETURN HOME.

OUR PHONE WORKERS, OUR COUNSELORS, HAD BEEN TRAINED TO BE SUPPORTIVE OF OUR CALLERS AND THEIR HOPES AND DREAMS THAT THIS WOULD BE THE YEAR;

BUT THEY WERE ALSO ALERTED TO THE NEED OF TAMPING DOWN SUCH EXPECTATIONS; OF BEING REALITY PRESENTERS; OF CAUTIONING CALLERS ABOUT NOT GETTING THEIR HOPES TOO HIGH, LEST THEY COME CRASHING DOWN.

MANY OF OUR CALLERS WERE FRAGILE, ON-THE-EDGE-FOLKS, WHO, WITH ONE MORE MAJOR DISAPPOINTMENT IN THEIR LIVES, COULD BE A THREAT TO THEMSELVES AND/OR TO OTHERS.

OUR COUNSELORS TRIED TO BE HELPFUL AND SUPPORTIVE, BUT ALSO CAUTIONED AGAINST UNREAL EXPECTATIONS AND UNDUE OPTIMISM IN THE FACE OF LONG AND DIFFICULT FAMILY HISTORIES;

AS WELL AS REMINDING THE CALLERS THAT IT WAS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR HOW OTHERS ACTED, OR TO MAKE EVERYONE GET ALONG, AND THAT NO FAMILY IS PERFECT.

INEVITABLY, THESE SAME CALLERS WOULD CALL BACK AFTER THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS TO TELL US, THAT INDEED, THIS HAD NOT BEEN THE YEAR THAT THINGS GOT BETTER; AND IN SOME CASES, THINGS WERE EVEN WORSE.

CALLER’S DEPRESSIVE STATES OFTEN DEEPENED, AND SUICIDE RATES CLIMBED AFTER THE HOLIDAYS.

I TELL US ALL OF THIS NOT TO THROW A WET BLANKET ON OUR HOLIDAYS; TO BUM US OUT;

BUT 1. AS A PRECAUTION, AS AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION AGAINST GETTING OUR HOPES TOO HIGH – IF WE ARE PRONE TO DO SO; THAT THIS WILL BE THE YEAR…!

AND 2. TO ALERT US TO WHAT MANY PEOPLE AROUND US GO THROUGH DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

NOT EVERY FAMILY IS A NORMAN ROCKWELL PAINTING, OR READY TO STAR IN A PUBLIX HOLIDAY COMMERCIAL.

IF YOURS IS, GREAT, THANK GOD; THANK YOUR LUCKY STARS;

IF NOT, BE REALISTIC ABOUT YOUR EXPECTATIONS, AND THE PRESSURES YOU ARE PUTTING ON YOURSELF AND OTHERS, TRYING TO MAKE IT SO.

THERE’S PLENTY FOR WHICH TO BE THANKFUL, AND I HOPE YOU WILL FIND IT IN YOURSELF, IN YOUR FAMILY, IN OTHERS.  I HOPE YOU CAN FIND SOMETHING FOR WHICH TO BE THANKFUL IN THE WORLD AROUND YOU.

LETTING DESPAIR, DEPRESSION, AND DESPONDENCY WIN IS DEFEATING;

FINDING SOMETHING, ANYTHING, FOR WHICH TO BE THANKFUL CAN BE LIBERATING AND LIFE-SAVING.

OUR JOB, AS CHRISTIANS, IS NOT TO GIVE OURSELVES OVER TO THE ENEMY BY DEVOTING ALL OUR ENERGY TO SADNESS AND SORROW;

NOR IS IT TO GIVE OUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO WEEDING OUT ALL THE UNSAVORY CHARACTERS IN OUR LIFE, OR IN THE WORLD;

OUR JOB, AS CHRISTIANS, IS TO HELP RECONCILE THE WORLD TO GOD THROUGH THE LOVE OF CHRIST WE HAVE RECEIVED.

OUR JOB IS TO BE MORE WHEAT THAN WEED; AND BEAR WITNESS TO THE GOD WHO PLANTED US HERE; WHO TENDS AND PROVIDES FOR US; WHO GUARDS AND GUIDES US.

I ONCE READ A STORY ABOUT POPE JOHN XXIII, ONE OF GOD’S GREAT SAINTS, WHO ENDED HIS PRAYERS EACH NIGHT BY SAYING TO HIMSELF:

“BUT WHO GOVERNS THE CHURCH?  YOU OR THE HOLY SPIRIT?  VERY WELL, THEN, GO TO SLEEP ANGELO.”

WHO RULES THE WORLD – GOD OR US – VERY WELL THEN, MY CHILDREN, GO TO SLEEP AND LET GOD BE GOD; LET CHRIST REIGN AS KING AND SAVIOR OF THE WORLD.

COME, YE THANKFUL PEOPLE, COME INDEED!