Trinity 8_2026

Readings:

• Romans 8.26-end
• Matthew 13.31-33, 44-52

Sermon:

Our Gospel reading this week is the third and final reading in a three part series of  Sunday readings about Jesus’  so called ‘sermon on the lake’ in Matthew 13. The occasion during the early part of his ministry in Galilee when his teaching and miracles were drawing ever larger crowds of the curious and hungry and hopeful. And Jesus, in an inspired move to get his message properly heard, takes advantage of the natural amphitheatre-like terrain of a cove on the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee by pushing out from the shore on a boat. A floating pulpit.

And having captured the attention of his followers and listeners, ensuring that he is fully visible and audible, he now enthrals them with a fast and furious succession of  parables, short picture stories, each story a different setting, a different leading character, a different plot line – but the same pithy punchline of a meaning: “This is what the kingdom of heaven is like.”

Jesus’ earthly ministry and mission was all about preaching, prophesying and practically demonstrating the kingdom of heaven. The term ‘kingdom of heaven’ or ‘kingdom of God’ which both appear in the Gospels mean pretty much the same thing for the purposes of our exploration of Jesus’ parables in Matthew 13. Jesus refers to the kingdom of heaven a total of 32 times in Matthew’s Gospel. Matthew Chapter 13 accounts for a quarter of those just in that one chapter. And, no fewer than 6 times we hear in today’s lectionary reading for the Eighth Sunday after Trinity the heavily repeated phrase: “the kingdom of heaven is like…”

The kingdom of heaven is like… a mustard seed… yeast… treasure hidden in a field… a merchant in search of fine pearls… a net… the master of a household who brings out his treasure. Our heads and our senses are giddy with all of the different images and interactions that Matthew is throwing at us in this Gospel reading. Were the original parables longer and more detailed or were they really just one or two liners peppering our imaginations and intellects, some resonating and touching our understanding of faith and life, others bouncing right off?

After the parable of the mustard seed and the yeast, Matthew goes on to tell us in verse 34 that the telling of all of these parables is a fulfilment of the prophecies for the long anticipated messianic age when the kingdom of God would be restored, when justice and peace, freedom and flourishing would be restored. Quoting psalm 78 verse 2, Matthew writes:

“Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet:

“I will open my mouth in parables,

I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”

So, how are we to respond to the ‘sermon on the lake’? As Kingdom People in the Diocese of Worcester the signs of the kingdom of heaven of love and compassion, justice and freedom are part of our everyday church and personal lives. For example, the ‘mustard seed and yeast’ stories of new children and young people’s groups popping up in our parishes – I loved the story in the Diocese Newsletter the other week about the Halesowen young people’s ‘donut club’ now growing into a ‘Pizza and Prayer group’. And in the midst of a torrent of unsettling news headlines about climate change and its horrific consequences – particularly for the developing world – another sign of hope for a better, greener future appeared in a recent story from Holy Trinity Church, Malvern, whose churchyard has recently become home to ‘Bug Hotels’ lovingly provided by children from a local Rainbows group.

That, for me is the point of parables. It’s the point of all stories. Stories are for telling. Especially Good News, Gospel stories. I think that our Gospel writer in today’s reading would agree. Psalm 78 – which Matthew quotes in his account of Jesus ‘sermon on the lake’ – goes on to say:

“things we have heard and known,

things our ancestors have told us.

We will not hide them from their descendants;

we will tell the next generation

the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD,

his power, and the wonders he has done.”

Let us keep telling others, the next generation, every generation, as the generations before us have told us, the things we have heard and known. And if we can tell the stories of the saving love of God in as exciting and stimulating and imagination-capturing ways as Jesus did, all the better!

Questions:

1. Of all the parables of Jesus, which is the one that stands out for you? Why do you think that is?
2. Will there be an opportunity this week for you to pass on a parable story of what the kingdom of heaven is like? Either a Gospel parable or one of your very own perhaps?
3. Which sign(s) of the kingdom of heaven are you praying and yearning for most  of all today?