Proper 20 Yr A
Pouting
Editor's note: During the season of Pentecost, churches that use the Revised Common Lectionary have two options. One, often called "semicontinuous" or "Track 1", provides more detail about the Old Testament stories. The other, called "complementary" or "Track 2", more closely marries the Old Testament lesson to the gospel reading.
Introduction
The readings this week: Exodus—Israelite nation is complaining to Moses because he and God rescued them from the really bad Egyptians but have condemned them to die of thirst or starvation; Psalm 105—a reminder of exactly what it is that God has done; Jonah—God saves Nineveh but displeases Jonah; Psalm 145—God is great; Philippians—stand firm in faith; and Matthew—landowner and vineyard laborers.
Perhaps the editor’s interpretation reveals a lot about the editor but it sure seems to me that there are a bunch of people pouting in these lessons. Boo-hoo! The Israelites because they are not caring for themselves. More boo-hoo! Jonah because God won’t punish Nineveh as Jonah suggested. Yet more boo-hoos! The vineyard laborers because their wages are the same.
Does it boil down to God not meeting our (human) expectations? Doesn’t God know more and thus can deal better with each situation than we could ever “expect”? How do you “expect” God to behave toward you? When are you disappointed that God has not treated you fairly? When are you overwhelmed with gratitude that God has been more than generous in his treatment of you? Comments welcome.
Matthew 20:1-16
Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
From sermon4kids.com: “The Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” I don’t know about you, but I’m glad that God doesn’t give me what is fair, but gives me his love and grace, in spite of what I deserve!”
Scripture: September 24, 2023, Proper 20 (Pentecost 17) Year A—Track 1: Exodus 16:2-15 (image); Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45 (image); Track 2: Jonah 3:10-4:11 (image); Psalm 145:1-8 (image); Philippians 1:21-30 (image); and Matthew 20:1-16 (image). Illuminating the scripture, an image and audio journey.
Collect: Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Reflection:
Track 1: In Matthew 20:1–16, what is the landowner’s motivation for paying the workers the same wages? When has God provided for you?
Track 2: In the stories in Jonah 3:10–4:11 and Matthew 20:1–16, we find others resentful of God’s generosity toward the “undeserving.” Both stories end with a question worth pondering. God asks Jonah: “Should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city?” and the landowner asks the grumbling all-day workers: “Are you envious because I am generous?” How do these stories of God’s generosity invite us to think about our own lives?
Source: Feasting on the Word Worship Companion: Liturgies for Year A, Volume 2 © 2014 Westminster John Knox Press.
Eye Candy:
“The Late Comers” by Jesus Mafa;
“Laborers in the Vineyard” by Ian Pollock;
“Parable of Laborers in the Vineyard” by Rembrandt
Ear Worm:
“Come, labor on“, congregational singing;
“Just a closer walk with Thee“, sung by Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson;
“Gift of finest wheat” by Richard Proulx and the Cathedral Singers
I like the concepts in "Come, O thou traveler unknown". Here are 3 interpretations—choral anthem; mysterious by Erik Routley; and a bit of Irish
Brain Food:
“Love or justice” by David Lose;
“The Generous Landowner” by Peter Lockhart;
“All of grace” poem by Andrew King
Parables:
"Les Miserables" (2012, PG-13). The opening scene is a wonderful picture of redemption and grace as the priest gives Valjean both his freedom and the silver candlesticks, Review 1, Review 2, Pew review;
“Traffic” (2000, R), hard-hitting about pervasive nature of and trafficking drugs;
“Where the heart is” (2000, PG-13), practical dimension of everyday spirituality, Review
Hymn Notes: "Come, O thou traveler unknown" (referenced above) tidbits:
"“Come, O Thou Traveler Unknown” is one of the most important and, many say, the best of Charles Wesley’s hymns. First published in Hymns and Sacred Poems (1742) in fourteen, six-line stanzas under the title of “Wrestling Jacob,” the hymn is a personal interpretation of the story of Jacob wrestling with the angel of God at Peniel (Genesis 32:24-32). At the end of the struggle, Jacob receives a new name, Israel (Gen. 32:28). As in any Wesley hymn, poetic verse and Scripture are intrinsically linked. The art of this hymn is evident in how Charles Wesley treats Scripture allegorically. By allegory, I mean that Jacob’s spiritual struggle becomes Wesley’s own autobiographical struggle and, in turn, becomes our story.
". . . While the first half of the extended hymn insists on knowing the “nature” and “name” of the Savior, the second half exults in the knowledge of the name when finally revealed: "'Tis Love! 'Tis Love!.... pure Universal Love….” Then the poet repeats six times (!), “Thy nature, and thy Name is LOVE”! (Upper case in the original!) This passionate revelation parallels Jacob's (now Israel's) recognition of the one with whom he wrestled: “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved” (Gen. 32:30, KJV)."
Listen to a simple presentation of all 14 verses here.
from Discipleship Ministries website.
For families: Study guide and activities, (former guide), group activity, snacks, kid video
For children: See family guide/activities (other activity), bulletin, craft
For middlers: See family guide/activities (other activity); bulletin, craft
Coloring: Exodus 16, Parable of the workers
Activities:
For Jonah: young, old, snack
For Psalm (Sing to the Lord): young, old, snack
For youth: It would be easy to dismiss this parable as one of the quirks of God’s behavior (I know you’ve been thinking that). But dig deeper. When we pout because things don’t seem “fair”, what are we considering? Do we know all the things that went into the "unfair" decision? If we don’t know everything, then how can we judge (and pout)? The point is, we can’t. Isn’t God asking each of us to consider a personal relationship with him that is different from each other of us? I think so.
Extra: Video for “Who wrote the Bible?”
Comments welcome.
The theme of today’s liturgy is set by the Gospel reading. The parable of the laborers in the vineyard is one of Jesus’ most important statements concerning God’s call to all people. That call is always open regardless of our past level of commitment. Those who accept it late are rewarded equally with those of long standing in the Kingdom. It is also a warning to those who have been committed to God for many years, lest they think themselves superior to those newly responding to the call of God.
Track 1. We continue the story of the Exodus. The Israelites are free, but now the people complain of hunger and wish to be back in Egypt. But God acts and provides them with food in the desert as a sign of his love, even when they are ungrateful.
Track 2. Jonah did not want to preach repentance to the city of Nineveh (one of the Jews’ greatest enemies) lest its people repent and God forgive them. However, after an amazing experience with a fish, Jonah complied. That God would forgive even Nineveh is one of the most striking messages in the Old Testament, expressing the universality of God’s love and forgiveness.
Today we begin reading Paul’s letter to Philippi. Written to encourage that church, the letter comes from a period when Paul was imprisoned and his own life was in danger.
God’s promise to us is not a reward for doing things right. It is our heritage as children and heirs of God’s promise. When we gather to sing and tell the story of God’s salvation, we discover anew our identity and the identity of all people. Not content to have us merely as creatures, God has made us sons and daughters who feast at the table of God’s home, which is our home as well.
From The Rite Light: Reflections on the Sunday Readings and Seasons of the Church Year. Copyright © 2007 by Michael W. Merriman. Church Publishing Incorporated, New York.