The Kingdom of Heaven Is Like

Gospel – Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52

The Kingdom of Heaven Is Like…

For this one, you need five readers in appropriate costumes (see below), a package of mustard seed, a fully grown tall plant (silk is fine!), a very small ‘cake’ (piece) of yeast, a bowl, a bag of flour, a spoon, a loaf of French bread, small treasure chest overflowing with ‘stuff’, jeweler’s loop (or magnifying glass), five or six pearls (plastic beads), a basket, a trashcan, a fisherman’s net filled with large plastic/cardboard fish. THE READINGS NEED TO BE MEMORIZED.

Reader One – dressed as a farmer (standing by a tall plant, holding up a package of ‘mustard’ seed) In one of his parables, Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field. Although the mustard seed (point to package) is the smallest of all the seeds, when it has grown it becomes (point to tree) a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.

Reader Two – dressed as a cook – a la Rachel Ray or Emeril! (standing behind a table with a mixing bowl, yeast, a bag of flour, a mixing spoon, and a loaf of French bread; before speaking, he/she measures out three cups of flour into the mixing bowl.) In another parable, Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like yeast (obviously add the yeast to the flour and begin stirring) mixed in with three measures of flour. The whole batch was leavened because the yeast had spread throughout. When it comes out of the oven (hold up loaf), it is baked in evenly.

Reader Three – dressed like a hiker/ explorer (holding a small ‘treasure chest’) Another time, Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. One day a man walking through that field found the treasure. He KNEW this land belonged to someone else, so he hid the treasure so nobody else could find it. He got so excited about his discovery that he ran into town and sold everything he had, so that the whole field… and the treasure… would be his!

Reader Four – dressed as a jeweler, complete with jeweler’s loop (holding a handful of pearls… plastic will be fine!!!) In still another parable, Jesus said that the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant who is looking for fine pearls. (looking a the pearls through the loop)Sure enough, when found that one pearl of great value, (drops all the pearls but one; holds up the one) he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

[continued on next page] Reader Five – dressed as a fisherman (standing beside a basket and a trash can, holding a net filled with large plastic or cardboard fish) To make his point, Jesus also said that the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind. When the net was bursting with fish, the fishermen drew it ashore, (begin taking out fish and placing some in the basket and others in the trash can) and put the good fish into baskets; but they threw out the bad fish. Jesus said that’s how it will be at the end of the age when the angels come to separate the righteous people (hold up basket of good fish) from those who are evil. He actually said that – like those bad fish (nod toward the trash can) - the evil people will be thrown into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.