(Mark 4:3) “Listen!”
(Mark 4:9) “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!”
(Mark 4:23) “Let anyone with ears to hear listen!”
(Mark 4:24) “Pay attention wo what you hear…”
 
Jesus calls his audience to listen.
 
When the word of God, the gospel of Jesus Christ, has been sown in us and we listen, it transforms us; then, the next time we hear that gospel we will be only further transformed. 
 
Jesus said “take note of what you hear.  Pay attention; the measure [of attention] you give will be the measure you and receive, and then some.  To those who have, more is given; but to those who do have, even what they have will be taken away.” (Mark 4:24-25)
 
The more attention we give to the Word, the more we will hear.  And yet, if we do not listen and are not transformed, over time we will hear less and less of the good news that is in our Bible. 
 
(That is how we end up misinterpreting it in all kinds of horrendous ways.  Like those in authority using Romans 13 to justify their divine right to implement laws—that is not OK).
 
Each time we hear the gospel—each time we really listen to Jesus’ good news—it transforms us and makes a difference in our capacity to hear it the next time.
 
For example, the more I hear the gospel, the more I am convinced that Jesus does not call his followers to new laws or limitations.
Jesus calls his followers to a new way of living that sees the supreme value of every human being. 
 
The more I hear the gospel, the more I am convinced that Jesus challenges all the habits, laws, and attitudes we have that strip the value from anyone, and Jesus’ way lifts up the ones who’ve been put down.  In the Bible they are named: the poor, the stranger, the immigrant; refugees, orphans, and widows. 
 
Jesus calls us to a life that looks beyond ourselves.  His way deeply challenges the individualism, the “us first” attitudes that lead to fearing others or wanting others to fear us.
Jesus calls us instead to mutual building up, to communion and communication with all neighbors. He brings us together—never tears us apart.
 
Jesus is transforming the world. 
He is reconciling it, making it one again, and right, with God.  And that includes everybody, and everything.  But his kingdom, his reign, isn’t implemented in the same way we make our rules actualized.  We like to use fear and force to make others change.  But,
 
His kingdom blossoms through you.  It starts with YOU.
The Word and Kingdom of God takes root in your heart and transforms you. 
 
Your transformation, your baptism, your call as a Christian child of God is how God is changing the world.
 
Jesus starts with your heart.  God’s kingdom is coming through the good fruit that you produce in the world—fruit that lovingly, and relentlessly, insists on kindness, conversation, mercy, and understanding as the only ways to approach one another, the only ways that lead to anything good.
 
As Jesus says, “Listen!” Listen to the Word of  God, for Christ is leading you deeper into the kingdom.  God is drawing you closer to God’s self, closer to your neighbors, transforming your heart ever more as you listen to the good news, into a kingdom heart. 
God is transforming you into one that bears fruit to spread the seeds of the kingdom.
 
“Let anyone with ears to hear listen!”

The gospel of Jesus Christ has a lot to do with New beginnings.
 
In baptism we are given a new beginning—a new life in Christ.  The Holy Spirit takes us, takes our life and emblazons us with God’s love; we enter the transforming waters in which the holy Spirit makes us a new creation. In her love she takes our old, sinful imperfection and forms us into a new, set apart and saved child of God.  She bestows us with gifts—wisdom and understanding, council and might, knowledge and fear of the LORD, and joy in God.  We come out of the waters, birthed into a new life—life as a chosen child of God, part of the body of Christ.
 
What we’ve been given, the formation and gifts of the Holy Spirit, are meant to be shared; They’re meant to inform what we do next;
 
This is a season of graduations.  I’ve been reflecting on the gift of education lately.  Time in school can be a very formative experience.  But we never stop learning.  And school is not just about memorizing dates, and facts, and periodic tables.  More than the tidbits we absorb, the gift of learning is the formation we receive.
 
The formation we have undergone while accumulating knowledge, whether in school or elsewhere (we all learn new things everyday) is the real gift of our education and of God.
 
This formation with which God has blessed us, moves us forward into life to be the person, and the people we are meant to be. 
That is why we learn. 
Our learning is a gift of God.  The reason we go to school, or Bible studies, or come to hear the word proclaimed on Sundays—is to gain new insight into life and to transform, little by little, into the people that God has created us to be.
 
And who are we created to be?
We are meant to be children of God, body of Christ, witnesses and proclaimers of the way of Jesus—a way that is filled with life—freedom, equity, justice—for all.
 
Jesus’ parables display a world of haphazard scattering of God’s message.
Jesus tells us of the sower who threw his seed everywhere.  Some landed on the path, where it fed birds.  Some landed in the rocks where it grew only for a time.  Some landed among thorns, and finally some on rich black soil.
Jesus reminds us that his light is meant to be held up high—not hidden under basket or bed—displayed so that all can see clearly.
 
That’s the kind of life of sharing that we are called into as body of Christ and children of God.  To realize that God’s love and the good news of Christ is meant for everyone and is scattered vicariously over road, rocks, thorns and black dirt; that the light of Christ is raised high and proud, shone for all to see; to realize that this kind of love comes in small actions, but grows mysteriously to new kingdom of life for all the world.

​We all are formed in the love of God.  God’s love and kingdom is brought through every one of you here today.  Let us embrace the gifts that the Spirit has given us in our baptism remembering that we are made new each and every day.  Most of all, let our joy in God through the love shown to us in Jesus Christ inspire our life and witness; Let us partner with Christ in scattering the love of God, and the Word of Life as we care for one another, strive for justice and peace, and grow in faith and knowledge each day.