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

[Joe Parrish]

-----Original Message-----
From: Judy <judy_boli at ecunet.org>
To: propertalk.topic <propertalk.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Sep 20, 2014 5:48 pm
Subject: [propertalk.topic] Sermon for Proper 20A



Dear Friends,
 
This Sunday’s sermon is entitled “Workers in the Vineyard” or “That’sNot FAIR!” and deals with all the lessons. Here it is:
 
We just heard one of the strangest stories in the Bible.  We heard Jesus tell the parable of how allthe grape-pickers hired to work in a vineyard got the same pay, even thoughsome 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, theowner made those who had worked the longest also wait the longest for theirpay.  And if THAT wasn’t bad enough, theowner seemed annoyed when the workers who had worked the longestcomplained.  Jesus reminds us that thekingdom of heaven is like this parable. What in the world is going on?
 
After all these years, I think I finally understand the implications ofthis parable.  The Rev. Ann Fontaine (anEpiscopal priest from Wyoming)tells about her experiences picking beans and strawberries in the Portland, Oregon,area when she was a teen-ager.  Ann wasjust trying to make a little money, but many of those hoping to work hadfamilies to feed and rent to pay.  Shesaid that when the field owner’s busses came to the corner where everyone whowanted work had gathered, the strong were chosen first.  If the field owners needed more help, onlythen would those who looked weaker be invited to work.  All of a sudden, I realized that I’dexperienced this kind of waiting and hoping and disappointment andembarrassment before.  When I was inelementary school, I hated gym class during the spring because we would go outto the playground and play softball.  Thegym teacher would choose two of the most popular kids as captains, then each captainwould take turns picking his/her team. The first chosen would be the popular kids who could hit home runs andcatch well.  As you probably remember,the choosing went down-hill from there, until finally the one or two kids whowere afraid of the ball and so near-sighted that they couldn’t see it comingwere left.  You know who was in thatgroup, don’t you!  ME!  That’s probably what was happening in themarket.  All the peasants needed work, sothey could feed their families.  The paywas minimum wage- enough to care for a family for one day.  So, you see, it was important to work everysingle day.  A day without work meant afamily 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 crippledwere hired.  When pay-time came, the lasthired were the first paid.  Why?  Maybe because the owner felt sorry for thembecause they had spent such a long time agonizing and wondering if they wouldhave anything for their families. Perhaps because he wanted to teach the stronger that they must care forthose more vulnerable.  (Matthew 25;“Whatever you do to the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you do tome”)  That’s really the first life-lessonfrom this parable.  What else is in thisancient parable of Jesus for us?
 
Did you hear the story of the new boss who had just been hired toreplace a manager who had been too soft on his employees?  The new boss watched as everyone workedsteadily, everyone- that is- except one person who was just standing, leaningagainst a wall.  “Young man,” said thesupervisor, “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 ofhere!  You’re fired!”  “Oh, O.K.” said the man, and he left.  “Who was that man?” asked the boss.  “The pizza delivery person,” was thereply.  NOT FAIR!  That’s what I’d previously disliked aboutthis parable.  It seemed like God wasunfair.  But life as a child of God isnot 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 ofshoes, 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 entitlementsgranted.
 
Did you notice- everyone gets one denarius- enough for one day.  This is exactly what God did with theIsraelites in the dessert- provided them with enough bread for only one day (2days on the Sabbath).  That’s how Godexpects us to live- by faith- one day at a time, one problem at a time, one joyat a time.  When we say “Give us this dayour daily bread,” we are asking for power and endurance and grace for one dayat a time.
 
Finally, the latecomers are as loved as those who were therefirst.  In Matthew’s church, thenewcomers were usually Gentiles- barely accepted and not considered asdeserving as Jews.  How many churches doyou know who are glad to welcome newcomers to help pay the bills as long asthose new people don’t try to change anything or get in positions of power ordecision-making?
 
May God bless us as we attempt to live out the implications of thisparable.
 
For anyone who is interested, this sermon and updatedAfrican-American wisdom statements are posted on our parish’s NEW WEB SITEunder “Sermons & Stuff”. The address is: http://www.stpaulsepisag.org .
 
Blessed preaching,
Judy Boli
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Saginaw, Michigan

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