Getting Lost in the Woods

  In today’s lesson from Mark’s gospel we see Jesus teaching the gathered people about the kindom of God. (1 & 2)  The first parable compares the kindom of God to a seed, which someone has scattered on the ground, and after several days notices that the seed has sprouted and seems to grow more every day.  The one who scatters the seed has no idea how this seed is transforming.  It would seem the earth herself is producing the stalk, then the grain, and then the full grain head.  With time, the grain becomes ripe and is harvested.  The second parable compares the kindom of God to a mustard seed,  which when scattered on the ground grows somewhere between 6-20 feet tall, and with branches stretching as wide as 20 feet. (3)  How incredible that such a tiny seed could grow into such a massive plant, as well as become a habitat for area birds. So what is Jesus getting at with all this talk of seeds?  It would seem he is trying to tell the gathered people, and all of us, that-- We are t

In today’s lesson from 1 Samuel, the elders of Israel have called the prophet Samuel to meet with them at Ramah.  These elders are the senior, male members of the community.  They had an agenda, with some real concerns to discuss.  Samuel was old.   While his sons had been appointed judges, they were corrupt, and were not interested in continuing in the way of their father.   It left the leaders feeling uncertain about the future of their community.  The elders informed Samuel they would like a king to govern them. Yet the driving force behind this request was really  a desire to be like other nations . Israel was a tribal confederacy, made up of twelve tribes, led by religious leaders whom God raises up to guide people-- such as Deborah and Samuel.   This style of government was unlike their neighboring nations- Ammon, Moab, and the Philistines, who were governed by kings and lords. When the elders looked to the east and to the west, they saw nations with strong military might and cle