[Propertalk] Fwd: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 20A

[Joe Parrish]

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-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: Propertalk <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Fri, Sep 16, 2011 1:15 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 20A


Dear Friends,

Tomorrow’s sermon is entitled “Workers in the Vineyard” or “That’s Not
FAIR!” and deals with the Gospel (Matthew 20: 1- 16). Here it is:

We just heard one of the strangest stories in the Bible.  We heard
Jesus tell the parable of how all the grape-pickers hired to work in a
vineyard got the same pay, even though some had worked through the
hottest parts of the day- from 6 AM to 6 PM, while others had just
worked from 5 to 6 PM- one hour.  If that wasn’t bad enough, the owner
made those who had worked the longest also wait the longest for their
pay.  And if THAT wasn’t bad enough, the owner seemed annoyed when the
workers who had worked the longest complained.  Jesus reminds us that
the kingdom of heaven is like this parable.  What in the world is
going on?

After all these years, I think I finally understand the implications
of this parable.  The Rev. Ann Fontaine (an Episcopal priest from
Wyoming) tells about her experiences picking beans and strawberries in
the Portland, Oregon, area when she was a teen-ager.  Ann was just
trying to make a little money, but many of those hoping to work had
families to feed and rent to pay.  She said that when the field
owner’s busses came to the corner where everyone who wanted work had
gathered, the strong were chosen first.  If the field owners needed
more help, only then would those who looked weaker be invited to
work.  All of a sudden, I realized that I’d experienced this kind of
waiting and hoping and disappointment and embarrassment before.  When
I was in elementary school, I hated gym class during the spring
because we would go out to the playground and play softball.  The gym
teacher would choose two of the most popular kids as captains, then
each captain would take turns picking his/her team.  The first chosen
would be the popular kids who could hit home runs and catch well.  As
you probably remember, the choosing went down-hill from there, until
finally the one or two kids who were afraid of the ball and so near-
sighted that they couldn’t see it coming were left.  You know who was
in that group, don’t you!  ME!  That’s probably what was happening in
the market.  All the peasants needed work, so they could feed their
families.  The pay was minimum wage- enough to care for a family for
one day.  So, you see, it was important to work every single day.  A
day without work meant a family without enough food.  However, when
the owner came, he probably hired the strongest.  Then when he found
more workers were needed, he hired the next strongest, and so on.  It
probably wasn’t until the 5 PM hiring that those who were near-
sighted, or weak, or crippled were hired.  When pay-time came, the
last hired were the first paid.  Why?  Maybe because the owner felt
sorry for them because they had spent such a long time agonizing and
wondering if they would have anything for their families.  Perhaps
because he wanted to teach the stronger that they must care for those
more vulnerable.  (Matthew 25; “Whatever you do to the least of these,
my brothers and sisters, you do to me”)  That’s really the first life-
lesson from this parable.  What else is in this ancient parable of
Jesus for us?

Did you hear the story of the new boss who had just been hired to
replace a manager who had been too soft on his employees?  The new
boss watched as everyone worked steadily, everyone- that is- except
one person who was just standing, leaning against a wall.  “Young
man,” said the supervisor, “how much do you make a week?”  “$200,” was
the answer.  “Well,” said the boss as he pulled $200 from his pocket-
“Take this $200 and get out of here!  You’re fired!”  “Oh, O.K.” said
the man, and he left.  “Who was that man?” asked the boss.  “The pizza
delivery person,” was the reply.  NOT FAIR!  That’s what I’d
previously disliked about this parable.  It seemed like God was
unfair.  But life as a child of God is not based on output, it’s based
on God’s love.  God’s kingdom is not a business, it’s a family with
God as our dad.  In a family- if one child needs a pair of shoes,
everyone doesn’t get a pair of shoes.  If another child needs a new
coat- that child gets a coat.  Our needs are met, not our entitlements
granted.

Did you notice- everyone gets one denarius- enough for one day.  This
is exactly what God did with the Israelites in the dessert- provided
them with enough bread for only one day (2 days on the Sabbath).
That’s how God expects us to live- by faith- one day at a time, one
problem at a time, one joy at a time.  When we say “Give us this day
our daily bread,” we are asking for power and endurance and grace for
one day at a time.

Finally, the latecomers are as loved as those who were there first.
In Matthew’s church, the newcomers were usually Gentiles- barely
accepted and not considered as deserving as Jews.  How many churches
do you know who are glad to welcome newcomers to help pay the bills as
long as those new people don’t try to change anything or get in
positions of power or decision-making?

May God bless us as we attempt to live out the implications of this
parable.

For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updated African-American
wisdom statements are posted on our parish web site. The address is:
http://www.stpaulsepisag.com .

Blessed preaching.
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan

 
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