Measure for Measure

He said to them, ‘Is a lamp brought in to be put under the bushel basket, or under the bed, and not on the lampstand? For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!’ And he said to them, ‘Pay attention to what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to those who have, more will be given; and from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away.’ He also said, ‘The kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how. The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head, then the full grain in the head. But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle, because the harvest has come.’ He also said, ‘With what can we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable will we use for it? It is like a mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on earth; yet when it is sown it grows up and becomes the greatest of all shrubs, and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the air can make nests in its shade.’ With many such parables he spoke the word to them, as they were able to hear it; he did not speak to them except in parables, but he explained everything in private to his disciples. Mark 4:21-34

To quote from Measure for Measure by William Shakespeare, "virtue is bold and goodness never fearful." We are called, simply as a part of humanity, to live with goodness and virtue, focusing more on what we can give than what we can get. In life, as in so many plays and dramas, people are too often worried about what they can get and will manipulate and scheme to get their way. And yet, we are called to follow the one whose life is measured by sacrifice, by giving up so that all may live. Jesus spoke in parables, in word pictures, often, to help people see and hear the call to be more than slaves to selfishness and greed. Let us use all of our expressive gifts so that we might model a life of virtue,

 goodness and service.

Generous Creator, you write on our hearts

you draw the stars in the heavens above

you teach the birds to sing every morning

and teach us to praise you in serving others.

We often refuse the life of service here

instead wanting to be the center of attention

seeking our gains on the backs of the poorest

forgetting your parables and your sacrifice.

Lord, help us to measure of life in service

use our gifts to enrich those around us

give us the strength to give up our pride

so that we can bless others and be blessed by you. Amen.