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Green Blades Preaching Roundtable

2nd Sunday after Pentecost

Year B
June 2, 2024
Pastor John Stiles

Deuteronomy 5:12-15
Psalm 81:1-10
2 Corinthians 4:5-12
Mark 2:23-3:6

“We have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that this power is from God and not from us.” (2Corinthians 4:7)

 

Editors Note: Sunday, June 2, is the beginning of what is known as the Green Season for the color of the paraments on most of these Sundays after Pentecost.  Here in the Northeastern Minnesota Synod, we are welcoming this green, growing season with the first synod Pollinator Sunday. Pollinator Sunday reflects our new identity as a Pollinator Synod, raises awareness of the importance of pollinators, and lifts up the growing network of congregations who are becoming Pollinator Sanctuaries by nurturing natural habitat for pollinators on their church grounds. There are nearly fifty Pollinator Sanctuary congregations so far, including Our Redeemer, Pine City, where the author of this reflection serves as pastor.  While some congregations may hold their own Pollinator Sunday on a different Sunday in the Green Season, June 2, as the first Green Sunday, is a perfect time to acknowledge the amazing work of pollinators in greening the earth.

 

 

Seeing as how I’m a bit new to this eco-faith network, I figured a refresher course on pollination was in order. (Yes, I may have dozed off in biology when visions of zygotes danced in my head).

 

Here’s what I do know. Basically, a pollinator is an animal that moves pollen from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma of a flower. This helps to bring about fertilization of the ovules in the flower by the male gametes from the pollen grains. Only then can the flower become the fruit, with the ovules becoming the seeds. (So, it’s like sex-ed in the plant kingdom. Cool!)

 

Now, if you follow the Revised Common Lectionary, the lessons for this Second Sunday after Pentecost conveniently have Jesus “going through the grainfields” with his disciples (Mark 2:23). So he’s already outdoors. Check! Trouble is, it’s the Sabbath and Jesus is about to get a lecture from the scribes about doing no work on this holy day, since they were harvesting the grains and eating them (when they were likely just having a little snack to stave off a growling tummy). The first lesson from Deuteronomy 5:12-15 recounts the Third Commandment to “Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy,” given to Moses on Mount Sinai. And if you read those texts alongside the second lesson where Paul says, “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, to show that the power is from God not from us” then it would be easy to simply kick back, relax, and let go and let God. “Hey, God’s got this whole pollinator business… after all, we’re just clay pots here!”

 

To be sure, there is a time and place for fields to lay fallow. Important work is going on deep underground during those intervals when no visible fruit is evident. We would do well to honor the sabbath times in our lives, trusting that God is indeed still at work in ways to which we are oblivious. In fact, most of the work of the creation that sustains life, such as the activity of pollinators, is done without us. Resting on the Sabbath gives us opportunity to notice and appreciate this.

 

And yet, the urgency of our times also calls for us to work while it is day (John 9:4), for night is coming when no one can work. How will you heed the cries of creation when human-caused climate change and reckless neglect of critical habitats have threatened many pollinator species?

 

As I understand it, insects are the major pollinators of most plants, and insect pollinators include all families of bees, wasps, ants and many types of flies, butterflies and moths. Even some bats are known to be pollinators.  The problem is that pollinators are on the decline due to human-caused loss of habitat and the use of pesticides. No big deal, right? Wrong. It’s estimated that 1 of every 3 bites of food eaten by humans is dependent upon pollinators. Most any flowering plant is dependent on this fragile ecosystem of pollinators to do their jobs and assist with the fertilization process. Just imagine a world without the foods we grow which rely on pollinators. 

 

Then consider Paul’s admonition to consider himself as an earthen vessel. People were ascribing his deeds of power to himself, and he was correcting them with humility, giving credit where credit is due. So, there is, indeed, powerful work happening through the apostles and those Corinthian Christians, as there is today through you and me.

 

So, take these texts then not as a “pass” to get off the hook with caring for creation, but as a clarion call to use the power God has “poured into the vessel that is YOU!” Then get out there and work while it is day, as stewards of this fragile ecosystem we call “home.” Protect our pollinators, learn all you can, and plant gardens full of flowers on the way. In this manner, you’ll honor the Earth as you honor the sabbath for both human and non-humans alike. 

Pastor John Stiles
Pastor John Stiles
Our Redeemer Lutheran Church
Pine City, Minnesota

John Stiles is pastor at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Pine City, a Pollinator Sanctuary Congregation of the Northeastern Minnesota Synod. Our Redeemer was the recipient of an EcoFaith microgrant this year to develop their pollinator garden with direct engagement from their Sunday School children and their youth.

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