Jesus mainly went around talking to people. There were miracles, of course, but most of the time he was just explaining this new way of life he had come to give. In ways that plain old people could understand. He would see some ordinary thing and say something along the lines of, “The kingdom of heaven is like a farmer planting crops… a merchant looking for pearls… a net… a mustard seed… a vineyard… a lost coin… a lost sheep… a lost son…” And people would immediately make the connection. They are called parables. Stories with a deeper meaning. Jesus was a master storyteller. If Jesus were traveling around the South, I like to imagine him looking around and saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like… kudzu.” Yep, Kudzu. Also known as “The Plant That Ate The South.” Hang on before you decide I’m completely around the bend. Well, I probably am, but come with me anyway.
Kudzu is this ornamental plant originating in Japan and introduced to America in the late 1800’s as nature’s multi-purpose answer to problems like soil erosion, drought and heat. Plant it up next to the porch swing and have yourself some good shade. Feed it to your cows, too. And it’s right pretty – big green leaves and all. Our prayers are answered! Let’s plant it everywhere! Fast forward a few decades and it’s everywhere, all right. Up in the trees, up the side of the barn, up on the housetop… click, click, click. The South as a whole did not read the fine print. For kudzu is drought resistant and grows just fine in poor soil – makes a real nice shade – cows, meh… it’s ok but hay’s better and easier to bale – just one little problem, it is highly invasive. It grows about a foot a day in season and takes over everything in its path. Above ground it covers the terrain and wraps around big old trees, smothering the life out of them. Underground it keeps on putting out roots called – get this – crowns – that are way hard to pull out. If you pull out one root, there’s a hundred more. Getting rid of it is nigh unto impossible. It is a never ending battle and kudzu keeps hanging on. You just can’t kill it off completely. The epitome of endurance and tenacity.
And so, the kingdom of heaven – the answer to all our prayers. Grows steadily even in the harshest conditions – patiently, slowly, daily – one foot at at time. Beautifully and dangerously invades and changes the landscape. Brings down the strong and mighty. Covers over the weak. Push it underground and it still grows. Pull one out and hundreds remain. Cut off the crown and there’s another and another. Kill it. And it comes back. Kill it. And it comes back.
Kill him. And he comes back. The kingdom of heaven is like this………..
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