Matthew 13:31-36a, 44-58; Isaiah 49:1-6

The story is told of an American service man visiting a South Sea island during World War II. His friendly host proudly brought a copy of the Bible out of his hut and said, "This is my most prized possession." With obvious disdain, the GI replied, "Oh, I've outgrown that old stuff!" The islander, whose tribe had recently accepted Christianity and undergone significant changes from their former lifestyle which included cannibalism, responded, "It's a good thing for you it's new to us, or you would have been a meal as soon as we saw you." What is regarded as new or old, relevant or quaintly out of date, really does make a difference sometimes. This was a theme that was particularly important to the writer of the Gospel of Matthew. As a devout Jew who h…