My first notion of a sermon or message or homily was a very simple one. It seemed people had their favorites to me and just picked them to talk about. Seemed a reasonable assumption to me. So I had some ideas of favorites. I could see myself preaching about todays scripture every week
Might alternate with the woman at the well. (John 4:)25 The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ—the Anointed); when that One comes, He will tell us everything [we need to know].” 26 Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you, am He (the Messiah).” We are all outsiders of something so we relate easy to her it seems to me.
Today I am following the liturgical calendar as I have for the last several years. One of the best things about writing a message is that it really can be on any topic. This is also one of the main difficulties. It is difficult to focus with all of creation before you. Given a verse to start helps me accomplish the most formidable challenge for most everything: starting.
Today's story about workers being paid the same appealed to me as a child. I had only just arrived really. Everyone else had been around much longer it seemed to me. This idea that I had not missed out on anything I think was the first one that appealed to me, but it is only one aspect of our story today. There is a sense for us as adults that these late arrivals could have arrived earlier. The workers who arrived early believe this to be true. While not against the late arrivals they simply assumed what they had done had more value and would be treated in some different way.
There are many reasons that we need work. Really there is one main one we dance around. On the application the most simple answer to why we want work we never give. I worked ten plus years in employment and not one of my clients wrote that they needed money, but that is why they wanted the job I assure you. Refugees new to the country they asked why they wanted the job. Really. Many were hired because they were not from here and people assumed they must work better. Opportunity breeds success is what our society misses.
Spoiler: the workers would not be treated differently because there is nothing less to give. God doesn't have less to give. Almost a constraint placed on the creator of the universe. As for us: we can be in relationship to God or not. More of God is pretty much equal to less of God if you want to look at the math.
More of God = Less of God
As the calendars turn we come around here today to our scripture from Matthew 20:1-16. My guess is I would pick this one each time to talk about, but I might not get asked to anymore. We meet at different times in our life with different purpose. Different meanings are infused in God's words to serve different people and different places. It is not the bible that is contradictory, it is our civilization. Basically in every era and location. Double standards built upon double standards till they are ingrained.
What double standards I wouldn't want you to wonder. What is the simplest? Women are to be virtuous and men are to sow wild oats. There is a constraint placed on this society. Things will not end well until the foundations are replaced. Jesus understood this well. People may not like the Christ over turning our tables in the temple, but they can not ignore him.
Hear a simple story of Laborers in the Vineyard I read from the Amplified Bible:
20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out in the morning at dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard. 2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour (9:00 a.m.) and saw others standing idle in the market place; 4 and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right (an appropriate wage).’ And they went. 5 He went out about the sixth hour (noon) and the ninth hour (3:00 p.m.), and did the same thing. 6 And about the eleventh hour (5:00 p.m.) he went out and found others standing around, and he said to them, ‘Why have you been standing here idle all day?’ 7 They answered him, ‘Because no one hired us.’ He told them, ‘You go into the vineyard also.’
You also. So this owner is like none we have ever known. A job creator to be sure. One with so much work. But which owner of a large estate goes and finds people to work. Quite a scene this man out about town calling people. Jesus always over turning the foundations of our assumptions. The greater the estate the more men to manage more men. The kingdom of heaven is like none we have ever known. All we can say is it will be different than we think it will be. The owner of that great estate will be calling...you also.
8 “When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last [to be hired] and ending with the first [to be hired].’ 9 Those who had been hired at the eleventh hour (5:00 p.m.) came and received a denarius each [a day’s wage].
Here we are in the world we know and the expectations are no different somehow today. It is really quite remarkable considering how many people claim to follow Jesus. We all think we would get more being more hours. What we seem to miss is maybe there isn't more. Maybe God doesn't have less to give.
10 Now when the first [to be hired] came, they thought they would get more; but each of them also received a denarius. 11 When they received it, they protested and grumbled at the owner of the estate, 12 saying, ‘These men who came last worked [only] one hour, and yet you have made them equal [in wages] to us who have carried [most of] the burden and [worked in] the scorching heat of the day.’
You or I in that situation might feel equally indignant that you even had to explain this to the owner. More work is worth more is the simple math we do. People for some reason don't like math.
When there is an adult and a child and relationship. This is what I was reminded of as a child. I didn't really understand work. Best I could equate the boss or the owner to the old people in charge around me. As a child I knew the adults did more work. As an adult I do more work. This seemed a good way for things to be.
I saw maybe those who were there earlier as older. There is something ingrained in the world that it is necessary for the older people, those who have been around longer, even when they were working in the blazing sun to be bigger people. And by bigger I mean to make themselves smaller. This was more of a feeling I had than any thought really at the time, but it always seemed the most marketable aspect of our religion. You were not going to get less when you came into relationship with God because there is nothing less about God.
Now I find myself on the other end and it is no longer a feeling but a job description. Follower of Jesus I will take responsibility. Why would anyone want to be big you don't get more, huh.
13 But the owner of the estate replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no injustice. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? 14 Take what belongs to you and go, but I choose to give to this last man [hired] the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not lawfully permitted to do what I choose with what is mine? Or is your eye envious because I am generous?’
This was a new foundation we seem as unsure to build upon.
College debt forgiveness was recently debated in the supreme court and continues to be a topic of interest. The argument is essentially the same as the workers who arrived earlier. It is not fair that someone should have what I have not had.
Well God doesn't have less to give. As a child I felt like I arrived late in the afternoon and was getting what everyone else was getting. This seemed like a great deal. Today it feels like I have been here longer. The deal is not as attractive I will accept, but there is no other deal in town I like to point out. There are no other estate owners out in the market place calling, "you also." They are all calling, "me first." This all natural and what we expect, but natural has lost all its meaning in this world.
16 So those who are last [in this world] shall be first [in the world to come], and those who are first, last.”
Remember where Jesus started: “For the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of an estate who went out in the morning at dawn to hire workmen for his vineyard. 2 When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius for the day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 And he went out about the third hour (9:00 a.m.) and saw others standing idle in the market place; 4 and he said to them, ‘You also...
I once told a refugee to come at 3 o'clock. He arrived at 9am. Jesus understood.
Jesus is not talking about a world we know or choose to live in just yet. What separates us from living? Paul probes this in the opening of Philippians (1) 21 For to me, to live is Christ [He is my source of joy, my reason to live] and to die is gain [for I will be with Him in eternity]. 22 If, however, it is to be life here and I am to go on living, this will mean useful and productive service for me; so I do not know which to choose [if I am given that choice]. 23 But I am hard-pressed between the two. I have the desire to leave [this world] and be with Christ, for that is far, far better; 24 yet to remain in my body is more necessary and essential for your sake. 25 Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith...
So we live for others Paul suggests. Pretty good way to start a religion. You also. You more necessary and essential for their sake. Sounds like community.
Someone worked in the hot sun. Someone will need to work in the hot sun. Someone will always arrive in the cool of the afternoon because of the efforts of our creator out in this world calling, "You Also." Good that it is not up to us as we would certainly give up on many people.
Today and yesterday I feel a strong connection to this simple story. I also feel that it was not the story that changed as I grew, it was the story that changed me. So much of what is called contradiction is in truth simple apathy. In a "me first" world "you also" makes no sense. Thanks to our creator and the ministry of Jesus this is a Also You world.
Nothing needs to be done to get everything, this can be hard to accept. It seems the people we would give up should do more, but in the end you need to understand there is only relationship with God and no relationship. No less no More.
Let Us Pray
Creator of this world and the next
Help us to understand how to work smart in the hot sun
Send us out in the market place calling, "also you."
Let us help reveal the great work of the kingdom
Life has taught us many things.
Let your love heal us from these wrong and simple views
Let us see you we ask in the name of your Son Jesus
The great hope for every world
Amen
Benediction
Go out in the hot sun
Welcome those who arrive in the cool afternoon
God doesn't have less to give
If you hear the call repeat it: Also You
Nottingham UMC 9/24/2023