Sunday, November 2, 2014
Nov. 9, 2014 22nd Sunday of Pentecost
Matthew 25:1-13
25:1 “Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins, who took their lamps, and went out to meet the bridegroom. 25:2 Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. 25:3 Those who were foolish, when they took their lamps, took no oil with them, 25:4 but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. 25:5 Now while the bridegroom delayed, they all slumbered and slept. 25:6 But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Behold! The bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!’ 25:7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. 25:8 The foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 25:9 But the wise answered, saying, ‘What if there isn’t enough for us and you? You go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.’ 25:10 While they went away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. 25:11 Afterward the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, Lord, open to us.’ 25:12 But he answered, ‘Most certainly I tell you, I don’t know you.’ 25:13 Watch therefore, for you don’t know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming.
“GIVING THE GIFT”
Grace alone saves, but grace is never alone.
Grace is a free gift of Gods love in Jesus Christ. yet grace is not cheap.
“It demands my life, my soul, my all.”
It is by grace that we are saved, yet grace which makes no difference in who we are and how we are, becomes no grace at all.
The five foolish bridesmaids mirror this for us.
We dare not take grace for granted. We must always be ready when the moment of ministry comes. The moment to live out our gift of grace.
They were not ready and they missed the opportunity and the party.
The 5 bridesmaids who had enough oil and could not share it remind us that:
There are some things no one can do for me - I have to do it for myself. I have to be responsible if there is enough oil in my lamp. Co-dependency results when you try to do this for me.
As Post Grape-nuts ad says, “You gotta try it a week- for yourself.”
Missed opportunities are just that - missed opportunities in which something of the goodness of life is lost and something of the grace of God is missing.
We need to be ready to be responsible to others, with enough oil in our lamps to be a source of hope, comfort, and joy to them. We need to be ready to give the gift we have been given - the gift of grace!
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Nov. 2, 2014 All Saints Sunday
Matthew 5:1-12
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
“Rejoice And Be Glad”
“I’m no Saint!
I’ve made some mistakes.
I’d do some things differently.
I’d not do some things I did, and do some things I didn’t do.
I’m no Saint!” Gerald Ford as he was being considered for appointment to V. Pres.
Most of us do not consider ourselves to be saints. In fact, it is almost an insult to be called a saint. It means you are not in touch with real life. As the agnostic Robert Ingersoll describes, you are someone who is “...not quite sick enough to die nor healthy enough to be wicked.”
This is a gross contradiction! A saint is someone who is very human.
A saint is someone who wants much out of life but refuses to crush life to get it. Who is passionate enough to not hurt others as he/she drinks deeply of life.
A saint is someone who dares to live as a human with an eye towards heaven. Who can be “poor in spirit” because he/she doesn’t have to pretend. Who can be “meek” because he/she doesn’t have to always be right. Who can be” merciful” because he/she doesn’t have to judge others. Who can “hunger and thirst after righteousness” because he/she doesn’t have to have all the answers all the time.
A saint is a very human person who can “rejoice and be glad” amidst persecution, suffering, grief or pain because he/she lives on earth with an eye on heaven; and the love of God which comes from above.
“Enjoy The Luxury Of Doing Good”
We usually think of a saint as someone extraordinary. A St. Francis of Assisi, a Maximillian Kolbe - the catholic priest who took the place of a condemned polish Jew at Auschwitz and was canonized a saint in l971, or a Mother Teresa. A Raoul Wallenberg, Martin Luther King, or Dietrick Boenhoffer.
We don’t often think of ourselves as saints. Yet this is what we are - all of us!
Or at least it can be said we are called to be saints! We are called to live out our faith in the places where it makes a difference in our lives and in the lives of others. Even as we are called saints numerous times in Scripture. See Ps 31:23; Ps 31:4;Rom 1:7
This is what we are - saints! Sinners who have not yet given up and thrown in the towel.
Real alive, vibrant, passionate, gutsy human beings who struggle to make faith “ a power and passion in authority among the powers and passions of life” (P. T. Forsythe) and not just a little frosting on the cake.
The Beatitudes are our marching orders.
“poor in spirit” - humble enough to laugh at our own foolishness and not claim to have all the answers.
“mourn” - feel the sadness of life and grieve deeply.
“meek” - Not weak, but strong in a gentle way.
“hunger and thirst for righteousness” - who desire something more than the easy life.
“merciful” - compassionate; walking with those who suffer; the luxury of doing good.
“pure in heart” - living from the inside out; genuine; trustworthy; real.
“peacemakers” - something every one wants and seems to evade us all.
“persecuted” - to be a saint is no easy calling; it will mean conflict; dangerous calling!
God calls us to be saints and God is with us, empowering us in this calling. Nothing can keep us from being happy; Nothing can keep us from enjoying the luxury of doing good, loving justice, and walking humbly with our God!
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes
He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
“Rejoice And Be Glad”
“I’m no Saint!
I’ve made some mistakes.
I’d do some things differently.
I’d not do some things I did, and do some things I didn’t do.
I’m no Saint!” Gerald Ford as he was being considered for appointment to V. Pres.
Most of us do not consider ourselves to be saints. In fact, it is almost an insult to be called a saint. It means you are not in touch with real life. As the agnostic Robert Ingersoll describes, you are someone who is “...not quite sick enough to die nor healthy enough to be wicked.”
This is a gross contradiction! A saint is someone who is very human.
A saint is someone who wants much out of life but refuses to crush life to get it. Who is passionate enough to not hurt others as he/she drinks deeply of life.
A saint is someone who dares to live as a human with an eye towards heaven. Who can be “poor in spirit” because he/she doesn’t have to pretend. Who can be “meek” because he/she doesn’t have to always be right. Who can be” merciful” because he/she doesn’t have to judge others. Who can “hunger and thirst after righteousness” because he/she doesn’t have to have all the answers all the time.
A saint is a very human person who can “rejoice and be glad” amidst persecution, suffering, grief or pain because he/she lives on earth with an eye on heaven; and the love of God which comes from above.
“Enjoy The Luxury Of Doing Good”
We usually think of a saint as someone extraordinary. A St. Francis of Assisi, a Maximillian Kolbe - the catholic priest who took the place of a condemned polish Jew at Auschwitz and was canonized a saint in l971, or a Mother Teresa. A Raoul Wallenberg, Martin Luther King, or Dietrick Boenhoffer.
We don’t often think of ourselves as saints. Yet this is what we are - all of us!
Or at least it can be said we are called to be saints! We are called to live out our faith in the places where it makes a difference in our lives and in the lives of others. Even as we are called saints numerous times in Scripture. See Ps 31:23; Ps 31:4;Rom 1:7
This is what we are - saints! Sinners who have not yet given up and thrown in the towel.
Real alive, vibrant, passionate, gutsy human beings who struggle to make faith “ a power and passion in authority among the powers and passions of life” (P. T. Forsythe) and not just a little frosting on the cake.
The Beatitudes are our marching orders.
“poor in spirit” - humble enough to laugh at our own foolishness and not claim to have all the answers.
“mourn” - feel the sadness of life and grieve deeply.
“meek” - Not weak, but strong in a gentle way.
“hunger and thirst for righteousness” - who desire something more than the easy life.
“merciful” - compassionate; walking with those who suffer; the luxury of doing good.
“pure in heart” - living from the inside out; genuine; trustworthy; real.
“peacemakers” - something every one wants and seems to evade us all.
“persecuted” - to be a saint is no easy calling; it will mean conflict; dangerous calling!
God calls us to be saints and God is with us, empowering us in this calling. Nothing can keep us from being happy; Nothing can keep us from enjoying the luxury of doing good, loving justice, and walking humbly with our God!
Monday, October 20, 2014
Oct.26 2014 Reformation Sunday
John 8:31-36
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
“The Three Principles Of The Reformation”
Faith alone - by grace through faith we are saved,
Word alone - The freedom we have to believe according to the dictates of our conscience, bound only by the Word and guided by the Holy Spirit.
The Priesthood of all believers - we are all priest called to serve God in our living.
“FREE INDEED”
Reformation Sunday is a powerful Sunday which reminds us of how great our God is, and how good it is to be loved by God!
Our reformation is to discover the truth that Jesus is hidden everywhere, even where we expect him least. It is also to recognize change as the driving force of God’s Word.
God’s Word is an instrument of change and will, if we let it, change the way we look at things. It “is the source of all that is creative in the life of the Church.” (Luther)
It sets us free to be new and different people. People who put love at the center of life and let nothing keep it from doing its thing.
There is a place for good works. (In spite of what Luther said and experienced in his day.) Deeds done because of faith. James is a good book. (In spite of what Luther said.) Faith must be active in love.
We are to be little Christ's who go about doing good, not because this is the way to earn heaven but because this is the way to show that we are free from the fear of losing heaven and to show not only that we love God, but that God first loved us
31 To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
33 They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”
34 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. 35 Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.
“The Three Principles Of The Reformation”
Faith alone - by grace through faith we are saved,
Word alone - The freedom we have to believe according to the dictates of our conscience, bound only by the Word and guided by the Holy Spirit.
The Priesthood of all believers - we are all priest called to serve God in our living.
“FREE INDEED”
Reformation Sunday is a powerful Sunday which reminds us of how great our God is, and how good it is to be loved by God!
Our reformation is to discover the truth that Jesus is hidden everywhere, even where we expect him least. It is also to recognize change as the driving force of God’s Word.
God’s Word is an instrument of change and will, if we let it, change the way we look at things. It “is the source of all that is creative in the life of the Church.” (Luther)
It sets us free to be new and different people. People who put love at the center of life and let nothing keep it from doing its thing.
There is a place for good works. (In spite of what Luther said and experienced in his day.) Deeds done because of faith. James is a good book. (In spite of what Luther said.) Faith must be active in love.
We are to be little Christ's who go about doing good, not because this is the way to earn heaven but because this is the way to show that we are free from the fear of losing heaven and to show not only that we love God, but that God first loved us
Monday, October 13, 2014
Oct. 19, 2014 19th Sunday of Pentecost
Matthew 22:15-22
15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how to entangle him (Jesus) in his talk. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Hero'di-ans, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God truthfully, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the money for the tax." And they brought him a coin. 20 And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" 21 They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 22 When they heard it, they marveled; and they left him and went away.
“A Loaded Question”
A loaded question is one that has more hidden then revealed.
A loaded question doesn’t deserve a straight answer. In fact it can’t be answered straight.
The issue at stake in this text is not simply the payment of taxes; it is the issue of the plurality and priority of the claims on one’s life and substance.
The issue at the heart of the text is how much are we willing to struggle with our faith as a power and passion in authority among the powers and passions of life. How much are we willing to struggle with putting our faith into action in love.
The answer Jesus gave left them with the struggle to be responsible for their own answer. And to determine where the hypocrisy was in their lives.
Each of us has the responsibility to determine as best we can where the hypocrisy is in our lives and then work at being more genuine, more truly human. This is the struggle of faith. To determine what is Caesar and what is Gods. That is, what priorities are going to claim our life and all its substance. How are we going to live?
If the image of Caesar is on the coin, then the counterpart to that which Jesus leaves unsaid, is that Gods image is on us! All of life is to be lived in gratitude to God who created us and sustains us with His love.
‘No Pat Answers”
Life isn’t black or white. It is made up of the shades of gray. It is not just having the answers; it is living with questions, struggles, even dilemmas. When ever we ask a question which begs a “yes” or “no” answer, we are either setting a trap or evading the struggle which is necessary to grow.
Jesus didn’t answer such questions. When closed minded people asked him a closed question, he gave them a riddle or a parable which made them come up with the answer.
It also showed their hypocrisy.
It is a dangerous thing to be closed minded. It just might keep us from ever getting close to the Kingdom of God.
To be in step with Jesus Christ today is to struggle to be open with the issues which touch our lives...abortion, divorce, homosexuality, alcoholism and drug abuse.
It is to be open to the changes which are always a part of life.
It is to dare put people before principles, as Jesus did.
Healed on Sabbath
Ate with tax collectors and sinners
Talked to an adulterous woman in public
Went to the home of Zaccheus
To be in step with Jesus is to have a relationship with God which is real and alive and changing. A relationship of faith which is a power and passion in authority among the powers and passions of my life. A relationship which has room for failure and is open to surprises. To live with Jesus is to have the surprise of our lives, not just once, not just once in a while, but many times as Jesus opens us up to the joys of life in Gods Kingdom.
15 Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how to entangle him (Jesus) in his talk. 16 And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Hero'di-ans, saying, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God truthfully, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men. 17 Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 18 But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, "Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? 19 Show me the money for the tax." And they brought him a coin. 20 And Jesus said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" 21 They said, "Caesar's." Then he said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." 22 When they heard it, they marveled; and they left him and went away.
“A Loaded Question”
A loaded question is one that has more hidden then revealed.
A loaded question doesn’t deserve a straight answer. In fact it can’t be answered straight.
The issue at stake in this text is not simply the payment of taxes; it is the issue of the plurality and priority of the claims on one’s life and substance.
The issue at the heart of the text is how much are we willing to struggle with our faith as a power and passion in authority among the powers and passions of life. How much are we willing to struggle with putting our faith into action in love.
The answer Jesus gave left them with the struggle to be responsible for their own answer. And to determine where the hypocrisy was in their lives.
Each of us has the responsibility to determine as best we can where the hypocrisy is in our lives and then work at being more genuine, more truly human. This is the struggle of faith. To determine what is Caesar and what is Gods. That is, what priorities are going to claim our life and all its substance. How are we going to live?
If the image of Caesar is on the coin, then the counterpart to that which Jesus leaves unsaid, is that Gods image is on us! All of life is to be lived in gratitude to God who created us and sustains us with His love.
‘No Pat Answers”
Life isn’t black or white. It is made up of the shades of gray. It is not just having the answers; it is living with questions, struggles, even dilemmas. When ever we ask a question which begs a “yes” or “no” answer, we are either setting a trap or evading the struggle which is necessary to grow.
Jesus didn’t answer such questions. When closed minded people asked him a closed question, he gave them a riddle or a parable which made them come up with the answer.
It also showed their hypocrisy.
It is a dangerous thing to be closed minded. It just might keep us from ever getting close to the Kingdom of God.
To be in step with Jesus Christ today is to struggle to be open with the issues which touch our lives...abortion, divorce, homosexuality, alcoholism and drug abuse.
It is to be open to the changes which are always a part of life.
It is to dare put people before principles, as Jesus did.
Healed on Sabbath
Ate with tax collectors and sinners
Talked to an adulterous woman in public
Went to the home of Zaccheus
To be in step with Jesus is to have a relationship with God which is real and alive and changing. A relationship of faith which is a power and passion in authority among the powers and passions of my life. A relationship which has room for failure and is open to surprises. To live with Jesus is to have the surprise of our lives, not just once, not just once in a while, but many times as Jesus opens us up to the joys of life in Gods Kingdom.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Oct. 12, 2014 18th Sunday of Pentecost
Matthew 22:1-14
1 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 2 "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, "Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.' 5 But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his slaves, "The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' 10 Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, 12 and he said to him, "Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, "Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 For many are called, but few are chosen."
“The Parable of the Wedding Feast”
Two points stand out in this text.
The first is summarized by the words of Dr. Helmet Thielicke:
“Christian satiation is worse then hungry heathenism.” Indifference and complacency are both dangerous to faith. They take the life out of it.
The second is pointed to by the words of Nietzsche: “If you expect me to believe in your Redeemer, you have to look more redeemed.” God expects to see something different in our lives because we have been to his banquet.
We are shocked and surprised by the treatment of the one who came to the feast without a wedding garment. We do want to have our cake and eat it too. As Dr Helmut Thielicke says, “We seat ourselves at the banquet table without a wedding garment when we allow our sins to be forgiven but still want to hang on to them.” p. 190
When we have no intention of being changed by God’s grace!
God’s intention is to change us into God’s likeness - like it or not. If we refuse to be changed; we will not be welcome in God’s Kingdom. Make what you can of that!
1 Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: 2 "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. 4 Again he sent other slaves, saying, "Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.' 5 But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, 6 while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. 8 Then he said to his slaves, "The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. 9 Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.' 10 Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, 12 and he said to him, "Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?' And he was speechless. 13 Then the king said to the attendants, "Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 For many are called, but few are chosen."
“The Parable of the Wedding Feast”
Two points stand out in this text.
The first is summarized by the words of Dr. Helmet Thielicke:
“Christian satiation is worse then hungry heathenism.” Indifference and complacency are both dangerous to faith. They take the life out of it.
The second is pointed to by the words of Nietzsche: “If you expect me to believe in your Redeemer, you have to look more redeemed.” God expects to see something different in our lives because we have been to his banquet.
We are shocked and surprised by the treatment of the one who came to the feast without a wedding garment. We do want to have our cake and eat it too. As Dr Helmut Thielicke says, “We seat ourselves at the banquet table without a wedding garment when we allow our sins to be forgiven but still want to hang on to them.” p. 190
When we have no intention of being changed by God’s grace!
God’s intention is to change us into God’s likeness - like it or not. If we refuse to be changed; we will not be welcome in God’s Kingdom. Make what you can of that!
Sunday, September 28, 2014
Oct. 5, 2014 17th Sunday of Pentecost
Matthew 21:33-46
33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
35 “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
“‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”
45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
“The Parable of the Wicked Tenants - A Wake up Call to God’s Love”
The setting of the parable of the wicked tenants is the “running oral controversy” Jesus is having with the religious leaders of his day. For Jesus the vineyard is Israel and the rebellious tenants are its leaders, who are trying to “seize the inheritance” for themselves. They are cast out and the vineyard is given to other tenants, who will give God the fruits in their season. These other tenants are the tax collectors and harlots who will enter the kingdom ahead of the religious leaders.
When asked, “what should the owner do with these tenants?”, they give the right answer. The right answer that is, for them. Not the right answer for God. For God is not satisfied with judgment, ever. Not even with them. God does not delight in judgment, ever! This is not God’s nature and it is not God’s liking. Judgment is always second to mercy and its purpose is only and always to prepare the way for love and grace to flow, full and free. This is why Jesus tells this parable - to try wake the people up to Gods love, not Gods judgment.
We need this shock therapy to wake us up and remind us of our role in Gods Kingdom. We are not owners. We are tenants, stewards, servants, who are to ”give God the fruits in their seasons.” This means we are not to “set our minds on earthly things”, but on “heavenly things”. This is a real struggle for all of us. It means we have to let go of trying to have it all, and be a servant to the least and the lowly. It means we have to carry our faith into our daily lives in ways which make a difference even for those who do not know the One we follow and are not interested in our religious beliefs. It means we have to walk the walk, at all costs!
“Produce The Proper Fruits”
The Kingdom of God will always belong to someone, yet it is owned by no one.
We are tenants, not owners. And the bottom line for a tenant is the crop produced.
Jesus is saying to the leaders of his day that “ the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and be given to a people who will produce the proper fruits” because:
They were adding to the burdens of the people rather then lifting their burdens.
They were more interested in being religious then in being merciful.
They were quick to cast the first stone as they judged others but could not
see the sins of their ways.
We, the Church, stand with the tenants. We are to produce proper fruits. If we don’t, we too will have it taken away from us. This is not a threat. This is part of Gods promise! God expects much from us because God has done much for us. We are blessed so we can be a blessing.
The fruit God is looking for in our lives is that we love one another as God loves us.
This does not mean sweet sentimentalism but strong compassion.
It means “That inner disposition to go with others where they hurt, where they are weak, vulnerable, lonely, and broken.” (Nouwen) It means to give up judging others, to stop measuring our meaning and value with the yardstick of others, and thus to become free to be with them and allow God to be the judge. “Love does not insist on its own way.”
33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 34 When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.
35 “The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last of all, he sent his son to them. ‘They will respect my son,’ he said.
38 “But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him and take his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.
40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
41 “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time.”
42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
“‘The stone the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
the Lord has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
43 “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit. 44 Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed.”
45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they knew he was talking about them. 46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
“The Parable of the Wicked Tenants - A Wake up Call to God’s Love”
The setting of the parable of the wicked tenants is the “running oral controversy” Jesus is having with the religious leaders of his day. For Jesus the vineyard is Israel and the rebellious tenants are its leaders, who are trying to “seize the inheritance” for themselves. They are cast out and the vineyard is given to other tenants, who will give God the fruits in their season. These other tenants are the tax collectors and harlots who will enter the kingdom ahead of the religious leaders.
When asked, “what should the owner do with these tenants?”, they give the right answer. The right answer that is, for them. Not the right answer for God. For God is not satisfied with judgment, ever. Not even with them. God does not delight in judgment, ever! This is not God’s nature and it is not God’s liking. Judgment is always second to mercy and its purpose is only and always to prepare the way for love and grace to flow, full and free. This is why Jesus tells this parable - to try wake the people up to Gods love, not Gods judgment.
We need this shock therapy to wake us up and remind us of our role in Gods Kingdom. We are not owners. We are tenants, stewards, servants, who are to ”give God the fruits in their seasons.” This means we are not to “set our minds on earthly things”, but on “heavenly things”. This is a real struggle for all of us. It means we have to let go of trying to have it all, and be a servant to the least and the lowly. It means we have to carry our faith into our daily lives in ways which make a difference even for those who do not know the One we follow and are not interested in our religious beliefs. It means we have to walk the walk, at all costs!
“Produce The Proper Fruits”
The Kingdom of God will always belong to someone, yet it is owned by no one.
We are tenants, not owners. And the bottom line for a tenant is the crop produced.
Jesus is saying to the leaders of his day that “ the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and be given to a people who will produce the proper fruits” because:
They were adding to the burdens of the people rather then lifting their burdens.
They were more interested in being religious then in being merciful.
They were quick to cast the first stone as they judged others but could not
see the sins of their ways.
We, the Church, stand with the tenants. We are to produce proper fruits. If we don’t, we too will have it taken away from us. This is not a threat. This is part of Gods promise! God expects much from us because God has done much for us. We are blessed so we can be a blessing.
The fruit God is looking for in our lives is that we love one another as God loves us.
This does not mean sweet sentimentalism but strong compassion.
It means “That inner disposition to go with others where they hurt, where they are weak, vulnerable, lonely, and broken.” (Nouwen) It means to give up judging others, to stop measuring our meaning and value with the yardstick of others, and thus to become free to be with them and allow God to be the judge. “Love does not insist on its own way.”
Sunday, September 21, 2014
Sept. 28, 2011 16th of Pentecost
Matthew 21:23-32
23 Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”
24 Jesus replied, “I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 25 John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven, or of human origin?”
They discussed it among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn’t you believe him?’ 26 But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”
27 So they answered Jesus, “We don’t know.”
Then he said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
28 “What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
29 “‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30 “Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?”
“The first,” they answered.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
“Changed Into His Likeness”
“It is not easy to ‘change our minds and believe’ something we don’t want to believe.
We do it slowly, cautiously, reluctantly, if we do it at all. Most of the time we try not do it at all.”
All too often even our religious beliefs help us to not change our minds and believe something new and different. To not get “a new heart and a new spirit.” Ezek. 18:31
Going to church is meant to be a change agent in our lives. So we can “be of the same mind as was in Christ Jesus, who though he was in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave.”
Phil. 2:5-7
We are not to just live in the past and stay locked in our old paradigms. We are to be ‘guided in the way of salvation’ and say yes to what is yet to be. This also means we will have to say no to some of what has been.
For the fact is, “the absolutes of yesterday become the obsoletes of today.”
There is only one absolute - “God is love!” Everything else is relative and up for grabs.
To say yes to love is to say yes to change as a way of life; change into His likeness!
“No = Yes”
The parable of the two sons is a biting parable which confronts the people of Jesus day - and us, who are trying to be religious, moral, good, and God fearing - with the disturbing truth that it is not enough to just talk the talk. It is necessary to walk the walk. That means we may have to do something we don’t want to do, something we are not inclined to do, something we even say no to, then have a change our heart, and go do it.
It is better to say no and mean it then to say yes and not mean it. In fact, we cannot say “yes” without also saying “no”. No is an important little word which establishes our identity, gives us dignity, and opens the door to our choosing to say yes.
To say “yes” to God is to never be free again to go our own way and do our own thing without a second thought as to what this means to others. It is to live out our words in how we handle our money, our time, our gifts, our energy. It is to be deeply aware that what God asks of us is not easy, yet it is full of grace and love, which makes it more then worth while.
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