Wheat, weeds, bananas and dollar bills

 “Behold what you are, become what you receive.” St. Augustine

“Behold what you are, become what you receive,” reminds me that we come to communion
and relationship with God, as we are – imperfect people. Today’s parable speaks of the weeds
and wheat that are planted in the ground and the conflicting feeling of living with weeds in life.

This parable tells the story of “…human striving, over and over again. We are weak and foolish at 

the same time; we are beloved and blessed. We hold on to that which works death in us and among

 us. For us to live, God must destroy our sin.”

Considering today’s parable and St. Augustine’s words, I find myself asking the question, 

“As weedy wheat, what do I need to receive from God?”

Several summers ago,  I was serving as chaplain at the Lutheran House at Chautauqua, I saw

a story of weeds and wheat comes to life, although the wheat in this story was a bunch of bananas.

This parable expresses how a bunch of bananas and two women can teach us about the grace of God.

A parable of bananas and bills…

Once there was a woman who wanted to make crepes with bananas for dinner. She had 

promised her child she would make them, but when she when to the store, there were

only green and black bananas. This woman was in a quandary. She had made a promise

to her child – but there were no yellow ripe bananas to be bought.

The woman spoke with her friend at the market, ‘That’s it – there will be no banana 

crepes for dinner!” Another shopper heard the woman’s frustration and asked, “Did 

you say you needed some ripe bananas for your dinner?” The first woman looked 

shocked, but curious to hear the stranger’s question replying with the story of there\

being no good bananas at the market and the promise she had made to her child.

The stranger told the woman, “Well, it’s a bit of a walk from here, but if you go to the

house where I’m staying, go down to the basement and look on top of the fridge in the

dining room – there is a whole bunch of perfectly ripe bananas that you can have. 

Please take what you need – they are free.” The woman was shocked by the offer

but was determined to keep her promise of banana crepes. So, she once more asked

for directions, and confirmed it was ok for her to have the gift of ripe bananas for 

FREE. The stranger affirmed that is was more than ok – and that it would be a gift

 to her if the woman would enjoy them with her child.

The two women went on their way – smiling at their odd meeting because of a need

for bananas. Later that day, the woman who had offered the bananas wondered if 

the crepes maker had taken her up on the offer and went to the dining room to check.

On top of the fridge only two bananas remained! The second woman celebrated because

the woman had made the walk down to the house, found her way to the dining room and

picked up the free bananas that she needed to make her promised banana crepes. 

The woman she met had received a gift! The bananas were free!

In a perfect world, the story would end here, but in opening the fridge to get a drink of 

cool water, the second woman noticed a few dollar bills tacked to a magnet on the front

of the fridge. The first woman must have left the money in thanks for the ripe bananas.

The second woman was frustrated by the two dollars. She sighed as her feelings went

from joy to disappointment. She thought to herself… “The bananas were meant to be free. 

The bananas were a gift – not for sale. The bananas were to be a sign of grace and mercy, 

not an exchange for goods. Why do people need to sell things like bananas with 

dollar bills, when they were there for free?”

Some explanations: In this parable of the bananas, the first woman wanted the make her crepes 

with ripe bananas. The second woman wanted to give the bananas. Both women wanted to fix 

the problem they saw before them with their own will and resources. While bananas were eaten

 and given – in the end, the two women realized that there are some problems that we cannot

 fix on our own.

As people, we try to fix our problems on our own. We long to be in control and keep things in

order with our bananas and dollar bills.

This is where today’s parable from Matthew and St. Augustine’s’ words reorient our perspective –

reminding us that we need God to meet the needs that we cannot meet on our own. Like the women

 in this story, this parable teaches us that receiving a gift of grace can be uncomfortable, because in

 accepting the gift, we admit our own needs. 

In this parable, we hear that God sows’ seeds as well as sorts at the time of harvest; we rediscover

our role of being receivers of God’s mercy. We learn that we are both weeds and wheat. We learn

that we all are receivers. We learn that we need God to help us, 

“Behold what we are, to become what we receive.”

As imperfect people that live as both sinner and saint – the message from St. Augustine and 
Matthew 13, is a gift that reminds us that God sees us as we are, forgives us and gives us himself- 
in Jesus. That amid the wheat and weeds in life – that God is the one to remove the weeds and 
bring us new life.

Considering this, perhaps our question today should be,  

“What does God desire to give us?”

Our idea of giving needs a serious change of perspective.

When we receive communion  - we receive it with open hearts AND open hands. We come to the 

table empty-handed believing that God will give what is needed. If we can hold this posture in 

the act of receiving communion – God can help us to hold this posture in the coexisting

weedy-wheat of life. We are receivers.

In God’s great generosity and forgiveness – we learn who we are – people in need of God’s

help and mercy. It is uncomfortable to learn and live understanding that we are not independent

and able to care for all the needs we have. Culturally, we are trained to be fiercely independent

and this challenges our identity as children of God. We are receivers. Our hands are empty. 

God wants to fill both our hands and our hearts with things the world can never give real love,

real forgiveness, real hope.

The story of the two women giving and receiving bananas, helps me articulate the challenge

 of looking to God, instead of the world, to fill our needs.

* We are weedy wheat that needs God’s forgiveness, hope, and help.

* It is God who plants the wheat in our hearts, who weeds out the sin; and calls us to proclaim
   to others what we have been given.

* Remember – in all things – we are receivers.

* We are to be pro-claimers – like a broadcasting antenna – for the good news of God.

“Behold what you are, become what you receive.” St. Augustine

This parable holds up a mirror and shows us our human vulnerability – as well as the generosity 

and love of God.

We learn about our need for God.

We learn that God has given us life.

We learn in life, weeds and wheat coexist.

This is most certainly true.

The struggles we face often feel heavy and this parable gives us space to lay our burden down. 

This lesson reminds us, not only of who we are and the burdens that we have, but to remember

the generous God who is waiting to give.

Today, God calls us to simply receive. To hold out our hands, our hearts – to pause and settle

into a posture of receiving. To stop the frantic trading of banana and bills. Today receive 

forgiveness, mercy, and communion.

From bananas and crepes, to dollar bills – the list of things we need is long.

God is the giver of all good things and we are the receivers; so, embrace your own need for God.

Even now, take a moment…

Close your eyes and tell God the giver… 

“I am weedy wheat; I need to receive _________   from You today.”

What do you need today?

What is heavy on your heart?

 Ponder your need with God.

 Ask your question. Hold out your empty hands.

God is the giver and we are the receivers.

“Behold what you are, become what you receive.”

Prayer: God the giver – help us to “Behold what we are and become what we receive.”
God help us remember that we are receivers – and that you are the giver of life. 
Thank you for communion, 

for this parable of the wheat, weeds, bananas, and dollar bills that calls us to receive from you - 

so that we learn how to give. Call us to listen and prompt us to share God’s love with others 

amidst the coexisting wheat and weeds of life.  

AMEN

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

24[Jesus] put before [the crowds] another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed

 good seed in his field;25but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then 

 went away. 26So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. 27And the slaves of the

 householder came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds

 come from?’ 28He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The slaves said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and 

 gather them?’ 29But he replied, ‘No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. 

 30Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds

 first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’ ”

  36Then he left the crowds and went into the house. And his disciples approached him, saying, “Explain to us the 

parable of the weeds of the field.” 37He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38the field 

is the world, and the good seed are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, 39and the

enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. 40Just as the weeds

are collected and burned up with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41The Son of Man will send his angels, and 

they will collect out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, 42and they will throw them into the furnace of 

fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom 

of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen!”