Most of the people listening to the Word of God here today are probably city folks. I also have lived only in cities, so I can’t say that I know much about rural life. Once, around the time I graduated from elementary school, I visited my brother’s home in the countryside. There were many persimmon trees, and the people in the town were fond of them. Today’s Scripture passage reminds me of these persimmons. When a persimmon falls from the tree, it’s usually hard at first. In time, however, it begins to ripen and turn soft. Once the persimmon turns soft enough, people eat what’s inside while discarding the skin. Sometimes, if there are too many persimmons that have fallen from the trees, they are gathered up and pickled with salt to be eaten later.

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