God's Vineyard

 

GOD’S VINEYARD

Sermon for the 17th Sunday after Pentecost, 2014

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the

Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.

The text for our sermon today is the First Reading 

- Isaiah5:1-7

Dear friends in Christ,

God had called Judah and Jerusalem to be His in a special way by promising that the Messiah would come into the world through them. Already in Genesis, God promised that the Saviour was to come from Judah (Genesis 49:10). Later, the temple in Jerusalem was a symbol of God’s presence with His people and a reminder of His promises.

Without His promise of the Saviour, God would not have called Israel from Egypt, given them a land of their own, and established a worship centre for His people in Jerusalem’s temple. The rich promise of God brings a response. When Isaiah considered the promises of God, he encouraged the people of his day to walk in the light of the Lord. To walk in the light is to know the light, to recognise it, and then to follow the path that it illuminates.

 The psalmist wrote,

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105).

Sadly, in Isaiah’s time, God’s people rejected His promises. Instead, they adopted “superstitions from the East” rather than walking in the light of God’s Word. They had become like the Philistines and their pagan neighbours in consulting omens and soothsayers.

 Where God offered light, the house of Jacob had adopted darkness. Isaiah had called them “the house of Jacob,” reminding his Old Testament audience of all the promises of God to them. However, many of the people rejected all those promises, and so God grew weary and threatened them with punishment.

Nevertheless, after the threats of punishment, God also spoke words of comfort to the faithful. Yes, the judgments would come, but those faithful who remained among the unfaithful nation would find comfort in the beautiful promises of cleansing and protection. The alternating pattern of threat and comfort was nothing more than God’s proclamation of law and gospel. The law threatens the ungodly as well as the sinful flesh of every believer.

 The ungodly dismiss the threat and continue without heeding it. No matter how much God threatens the ungodly, they will not fear Him, while the godly hears the same threats and recognises the voice of God condemning the sinful flesh. The believer trembles at his sin and its consequences. He stands completely at the mercy of God, knowing that he deserves nothing but death and eternal damnation. He is sorrowful to the point of death. But God does not leave any believer in that condition. No, God is good, and He speaks words of forgiveness, love, and hope to those drowning in sin. God has been good to us - not only to us but also to Christians who have gone before us. Throughout history God has revealed Himself to be good and gracious. The question therefore comes to mind: if God has been and is so good to us, why do we have such a hard time being good to God? This is how the people in Isaiah’s time were. So Isaiah reveals a skilfully developed parable to make clear Israel’s failure to carry out the purposes for which God had chosen her. Isaiah can’t help but break forth in song.

1 Let me sing to the One whom I love a song of the One whom I love about His vineyard! The One whom I love had a vineyard on a fertile hilltop. 

2 He dug it over, removed its stones, and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watch-tower in the middle of it, and also cut out a wine-vat in it.

If we look ahead into the New Testament, it is as if Jesus were using this parable as a text for His parable of the vineyard in Matthew 21:33-46, our Gospel reading for today.

Isaiah sings of the Lord’s effort in creating a vineyard. The Lord did everything. He chose the ideal location, prepared the soil, planted the best vines, and built a watch-tower and a wine-vat. If any question remained about the effort of God, one only needs to think of the stones of Palestine. In that part of the world, clearing the land of stones required a great deal of toil and sweat for any gardener. Cutting out a wine-vat and building a watch-tower were also arduous tasks for any one preparing a vineyard. 

The song is a parable that emphasises the grace of God. God initiates; God acts; God works - no one else. When God acts, results follow. The vineyard sits atop a fertile hillside where it will get rain and sunshine.

 All is ready for an abundant harvest. Yet, in spite of the tender care given to the vines, which represent the children of Israel, it only produced bad grapes. God was good to them, but they were not good to God. They did not fulfil the purpose for which God called them. 

This lead God to ask: “Now, you people living in Jerusalem and you men of Judah, decide, please, between Me and My vineyard!  What more should have been done for My vineyard than I have already done in it? When I waited for it to produce grapes, why did it produce only bad grapes? God, the owner of the vineyard, tells what kind of fruit He had a right to expect from the people of Jerusalem. “What more should have been done?” God asks. His second question is, “Why?” 

Both questions were addressed to Jerusalem and Judah. But the people gave no answer because they knew that God was accusing them. They failed to produce the good fruits. In spite of all that God’s grace had done for them, they turned away from Him and pursued pleasure and evil. When God expected fruits of faith like love, gentleness, humility, faith, and reverence, the people yielded a crop of perversion, gluttony, arrogance, greed, and mockery.

Although God expended great effort in creating this vineyard, He would destroy it. This vineyard could not be helped by being pruned or cultivated. It is past saving. God will break down its wall, and it will be trampled down. The time for God’s judgment has arrived. The vineyard will become a wasteland where briars and thorn-bushes will grow up. The judgment will be so thorough that the Lord will command the clouds not to let any rain fall on it. One should not forget the implications of that comment. 

God controls all things, even the forces of nature, and He will use all things to accomplish His purposes.

This parable presents a short, poignant history lesson. God had created the people of Israel and Judah. God had chosen Abraham, had made Abraham’s descendants into a mighty nation when He led them out of Egypt under Moses, and had protected them as they conquered the land and established a monarchy under David and Solomon. But things had changed. God’s people had deserted their gracious Lord, and God would deal with those who had scorned His grace, patience, and goodness, and the people would be led away into captivity.

 Not much has changed between then and now. It is so tragic to see, even within our own church, more and more of God’s people deserting Him. Many whom God has called through Holy Baptism no longer heed the Word of God. They too are like vines producing bad grapes, and they will only have themselves to blame when the kingdom of God is taken away from (them) (Matt. 21:43).

 By the way, their producing of bad grapes is not the result of bad soil. In the vineyard Isaiah was speaking of, there was nothing wrong with the soil. In fact, the Hebrew for ‘fertile hilltop’ literally means “on a horn, a son of oil.” This phrase, used only here in the Old Testament, describes a geological  formation that is wonderfully fertile. It is into this good, fertile soil, Isaiah says, that Jesus places and plants choice vines. Not only did the vines represent the children of Israel, but they also represent you and me. We are the crown of His creation! We are somebody because God made us and because Jesus died and rose for us. Peter says that “you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light,” (1 Peter 2:9).

The Lord expects us to produce good fruit. He expects us to be productive. That’s why Isaiah says He “also cut out a wine-vat in it.” A wine-vat was the place where the good grapes were pressed together to make wine. The wine-vat was the gathering place for the harvest. When the good fruit was produced, the harvest was gathered. The Lord wants us to be good to Him. He wants us to trust in Him in everything. He wants us to show forth the fruit of the Spirit in our everyday lives, that is, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, (Gal. 5:22). But we cannot produce this good fruit if we, like those Israelites, stop feeding on God’s Word, and turn to the world. If we do that, then we can expect judgement. God says, “5 Now therefore, please let Me inform you what I shall do to My vineyard! I shall tear away its hedge and it will be destroyed. I shall break down its wall, and it will be trampled down. 6 I shall make it a wasteland. It will not be pruned or cultivated. Briars and thorn-bushes will grow up. I shall also command the clouds not to let any rain fall on it.” 

In other words, God says: “All you are yielding is bad fruit, and if bad fruit is all you have to give, then bad fruit is what you will get in return! I’m taking away my blessings and My protection!” What a horrible situation to find oneself in! What are we to do? If we have let the love of God grow cold in our hearts, if we have been producing bad grapes, then what now? 

The simple answer is to repent. Seek the Lord while He may be found (Is 55:6), and if you know of others who have wandered from the faith, remind them of the coming judgment, when everyone will stand before the Lord. Remind them that it is still not too late to repent. Use God’s Law to prune, and His Gospel to raise new shoots that go on to produce good fruit. Remind them of the promise God makes in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land!”

May we all in the words of the Apostle Paul, “press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus, (Phil.3:14), and pray that we continue to produce good fruit in His name. Amen. The peace of God which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

16th Sunday after Pentecost-Br Andrew

Andre-Rublev's Saviour

Holy Redeemer

An ECCA Parish

In the care of the Ecumenical Franciscan Order

Homily preached at Winmalee 

by

 Br Andrew on  Sunday 28th September 2014

Gospel Matthew 21:23-32

“By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?”

Authority is a wonderful thing to have when differences are to be settled and people are to be put in their place, yes authority can be useful. As a citizen of Judah both Civil and Ecclesiastical Bodies held authority over Jesus, just as they did every other citizen. Shortly in (Matthew 22:21) we will learn that Jesus even acknowledged the right of the Roman overlords to exact their taxes. Remember also the time that the collectors of the Temple Tax approached Peter to discover whether Jesus paid that tax, a four drachma coin was found in a fish’s mouth and the tax was paid for both Peter and Jesus – whether the Son of God had to pay it or not. (Matt.17:24-27) Today the Roman Church calls this payment Peter’s pence.

The record in today’s Gospel gives us another incident illustrating one of those situation in which a citizen was required to comply with both Civil – the Elders of the People and Ecclesiastical – the Pharisees; Courts These two Bodies of Law had come out in force to arrest this imposter who recently had disrupted a very lucrative money spinner when he threw the money Changers out of the Temple.

They wanted his piece of Paper – that authorized him to preach and teach.

The Son of Man had no piece of Paper! AND they knew this!

Every Rabbi had his right to practise as an Instructor presented  to him by the scribes, or their chief representative, after they had finished their studies at the feet of some great teacher and been solemnly admitted (the delivery of a key, as the symbol of the right to interpret, being the outward token) to that office.

The second question made sense of the first. Could He name the Rabbi who had trained Him, or authorised Him to teach?

As a human being Jesus had not gone through the usual educational and study process to obtain the necessary qualifications, his knowledge and Authority came from his heavenly Father. The Authorities knew he was a paperless Rabbi because they did not have his name in their records, they knew he could not name the Rabbi who had trained him, because there wasn’t one and therefore could arrest him at the very least as an imposter.

Jesus responds to their question “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?”(21:24,25)

All in a tizz they deliberated that, although they had investigated John the Baptist and found him, let us say satisfactory as a Prophet. To say that John received his authority from God would mean that they must also acknowledge that Jesus’ Authority also came from God. To deny the former would cause the people to riot, because the people believed John was a prophet, this would be disastrous so they lied and said that they didn’t know. So they made fools of themselves implying that experts as they were supposed to be they could not determine the Authenticity of any prophet.

27…. Then (Jesus) said, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things”

To the ears of the people of his time his parables were easier to understand and probably held greater depths of meaning as well as any word play that doesn’t come through to translation. For instance – as well as this being a parable it is also a metaphor.

What then did the parable of the two sons say to them? Let’s look at these Old Testament Metaphors:

·         Firstly for the Israelites the “Vine” is a symbol of (Israel's) Spiritual privileges.

·         Secondly the vineyard was a symbol of (Israel) and its promised prosperity.

Jesus, however is speaking of the Vineyard of the Kingdom of Heaven wherein he is the Vine, (John 15: ) in this Parable I am going to use the symbolism to represent both the Mission field and the Kingdom of Heaven.

Firstly the Parable itself intends the Vineyard to be the Kingdom of Heaven, the place wherein we shall finally attain our perfect spiritual relationship with Jesus. AKA the promised prosperity of Israel

The Sons represent two classes of people, the first: those who erstwhile were tax collectors and sinners but who received the Baptism of John and were converted, his/ their “NO” represents their former lives of sin and their Going to work the Vineyard their conversion and entering first into the kingdom.

The second son represents the second class of people, who were full of self-righteousness; who even after hearing John’s call to repentance had ignored it because they didn’t believe him, or that his call applied to them, the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. Yet after seeing this, they did not repent and believe him. Hence prostitutes and sinners shall enter Heaven before they do.

Later we will read that after the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. And in public too!

Now let us  compare the vineyard to the Mission field of the world we inhabit, we live in it, we work in it to bring others to know the love of Christ and the reality of the Kingdom and as we do so we grow in spiritual intimacy with him. Jesus is never far away because we are developing an intimate relationship with him that spurs us to do his will gladly.

If we were one of those who, like the Pharisees, only pretend conversion, who have not yet believed in the call to repentance we would soon discover that the Vineyard was too uncomfortable a place to be until we could face up to the darkness within us and believe, until then we try to conceal ourselves with our new clothes and good deeds.

It is not chic to be a Christian, not even a fashion statement, and small communities such as ours must explain our raison d’etre to some of the more innocent members of the Body of Christ that do not realise the necessity for safe havens. Ours, then is a double Mission - not only to seek out the lost but perhaps to make known to the greater Church Community that there is a safe haven for those who do not pass muster, even to show others that they may need to be here too.

Amen

15th Sunday after Pentecost - Br Simeon

Andre-Rublev's Saviour

Homily preached at Winmalee by Br. Simeon Sunday 21^st September 2014:

Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Gospel:  Matthew 20:1-16

The parable of the generous vineyard owner:  “Are you envious because I am generous?  Thus the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

May I speak in the Name of the one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Be honest. When you heard the reading of the Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard just a few minutes ago, did your heart leap for joy? Were you thrilled when you heard that the workers who'd toiled and slaved all day long in the hot sun were going to get the same day's wages as those who'd worked only one hour? I think not!

The first part of the 20th chapter of Matthew records another story that Jesus told, this time about the wages paid to the workers in the vineyard. It clearly is about serving the Master, or working in the kingdom, but the twist here is that many of those who worked in the vineyard did not think that the wages were fairly paid.

The story follows logically the ideas of the last chapter concerning wealth and the kingdom of heaven, that is, following the Lord and the cost of that discipleship. The theme of the last being first and the first being last ended that chapter, and this one as well. God’s economy of grace is not the same as the natural order people expect.

The parable of the generous vineyard owner (which appears only in Matthew’s Gospel) is the first of several parables and exhortations challenging the Pharisees and scribes and those who criticised Jesus for preaching to tax collectors and sinners.

Jesus makes two points in this parable:

First, the parable speaks of the primacy of compassion and mercy in the kingdom of God.  The employer (God) responds to those who have worked all day that he has been just in paying them the agreed-upon wage; they have no grievance if he chooses to be generous to others.

God's goodness and mercy transcends the narrow and limited laws and logic of human justice; it is not the amount of service given but the attitude of love and generosity behind that service.

The parable also illustrates the universality of the new Church. The contracted workers, Israel, will be joined by the new “migrant workers,” the Gentiles, who will share equally in the joy of the kingdom of God.

Today’s Gospel strikes at our tendency to judge everything and everyone in terms of how it affects me.  How someone else benefits or is lifted up doesn’t matter — my hurt feelings trump their joy.  Christ calls us to embrace the vision of the generous vineyard owner: to rejoice in the good fortune of others and their being enabled to realise their dreams, instead of lamenting our own losses and slights.

We have our scales, time clocks and computer printouts to measure what is just and what is not; but God is generous, loving and forgiving with an extravagance that sometimes offends our sense of justice and fair play.

Christ calls us to look beyond labels like “tax collector” and “prostitute” and seek out and lift up the holiness and goodness that reside in every person who is, like each one of us, a child of God.  The parable of the generous vineyard owner invites us to embrace the vision of God that enables us to welcome everyone to the work of the harvest, to rejoice in God’s blessings to all, to help one another reap the bounty of God’s vineyard.

Amen.