Tyner UMC’s first worship series of 2023 is called “Glimpses of God’s Kingdom.”
Last year a friend from my University of Illinois days occasionally posted a photo she’d taken for a “52 Week Photo Challenge” on Facebook. Each week has a theme and people post photos that illustrate the word for the week. I’m not sure why I signed up—it was impulsive—but it’s pushed me to look at familiar sights in new ways.

The photos above are from week 2 (ground level) and week 3 (broken) of this challenge. Both were taken at Potato Creek State Park, in places Jeff and I had walked by many times. We’d just rarely focused on the ground or on things that are broken like the headstones in Porter Rea Cemetery. When we looked specifically for scenes that fit the word of the week, we saw sights we’d never seen before. Well, we’d “seen” them but not stopped to look closely at or think about them much less take a photograph of them.

Matthew chapter 13 is a collection of parables told by Jesus. After the first, the parable of the seeds, Jesus’ disciples came and said to him, “Why do you use parables when you speak to the crowds?” (v. 10 CEB)

Jesus’ answer is longer, but in a nutshell, he says this of the crowds: although they see, they don’t really see; and although they hear, they don’t really hear or understand. (v. 13 CEB)

Jesus’ disciples cared enough to ask Jesus to explain the parables, and their hearts and minds were prepared to understand the meaning behind the parables. Two people can see or hear the same thing and not perceive or understand it in the same way. Often we don't take the time to stop to ask or think about scripture we read. The glimpses of God’s kingdom I see in scripture will not be the same glimpses as others see. That’s why I like discussing what we’ve read on Sundays after worship.

Just as the photo challenge is helping me to see familiar parts of my world in new ways, the challenge of being intentional about seeing glimpses of God’s Kingdom is helping me to see not only scripture, but everyday events, in new ways. 


​

​Part of the message I preached on January 15 was inspired by a journal entry I wrote after reading Matthew 9:36-38, one of the New Testament chapters for this week:

“Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were troubled and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The size of the harvest is bigger than you can imagine, but there are few workers. Therefore, plead with the Lord of the harvest to send out workers for his harvest.” CEB

As pastors, my husband and I often get private prayer requests from members of the congregation about friends or family members who are really struggling or who have experienced a tragic loss. It is clear from the stories we hear that people today might also be described in the way Jesus described the crowds. “troubled and helpless like sheep without a shepherd.” We feel compassion for these people and want to help.

In this week’s Women’s Bible study on Ruth 2:1-4 the video speaker noted that Boaz prayed a blessing over Ruth—but later Boaz became the one God used to fulfill what he had prayed for! One of the “Living It Out” challenges at the end of this week’s study asked us to go through the list of people we are praying for and ask God how He might want us to be the one to meet someone’s need.

Whether it’s sending a card, offering a ride, taking a meal, or sitting and listening, we can be workers in the harvest. Those of us who know the Good Shepherd can offer people a glimpse of God’s Kingdom. What glimpses of God’s Kingdom or insights did you glean while reading Matthew 6-10?
Pastor Cathy