Repository of
Sermons
/ Calendar of Events /
Activities
18 Pentecost
September 18, 2005
Sermon by Rev. Peggy Tuttle, Interim Rector
Readings
The Workers in the Vineyard
One sunny day Jesus, Moses and an elderly small man were playing golf.
Jesus was the first to tee off and he hit the ball a little left and it ended up in the water hazard. Because it was Jesus, his ball floated and when he got down to the hazard he walked upon the water and hit the ball onto the green.
Moses was the next to tee off, and, like Jesus, he hit the ball into the water hazard. When he got down to the hazard, he parted the waters and hit the ball onto the green.
The little old man was next, and he, too, hit into the water hazard. Just then a big fish swallowed the ball and began to swim away. But then a hawk swooped down and grabbed the fish in its talons and started to fly away. As the hawk passed over the green, it tightened its grip on the fish and the ball popped out of the fish, landed on the green and rolled into cup.
Jesus then turned to the old man and said, "Look Dad, if you're going to play, play fair."
The typical reaction to the parable of the workers in the vineyard is, “It’s not fair.” But this parable isn’t about fairness; it is about power and hospitality. The challenge for me is to weave those two very different ideas into something that preaches.
Let’s start with the obvious: power. First, this parable is sandwiched between two other stories dealing with the disciples and their concerns about where they line up in the Kingdom. Peter has said, “Look, we gave up everything to follow you. What is our reward?” Matthew’s version of Jesus’ reply includes a particular reassurance to Peter that he and the other disciples will receive thrones in heaven. And Jesus also promises a hundred fold reward to those who have left all they have to follow him. Jesus then says, “Many who are first will be last and the last first,” a saying that is reversed at the end of today’s Gospel.
Between these two encounters is the story of the workers in the vineyard. A story so disturbing that we take issue with it no matter which side we relate to. If we compare ourselves to the landowner, we think him either foolish or unwise for paying the same wages to those who worked only one hour as against those who worked all day. “Why, he’ll never be a success managing money like that! What will the stockholders say! Let’s vote him out of office!”
Oh, so let’s compare ourselves to the workers. “Well, she came to the vineyard one hour before quitting time and I’ve been here since before breakfast. How come she gets the same pay as I do? It isn’t fair!” Now we have a labor dispute, perhaps a threat of strike. Hmm. It sounds to me like we don’t get it.
This story isn’t about compensation or getting paid what is due us. It isn’t about what is fair. It is about giving up control of the money and not being controlled by money.
In fact, it isn’t about us. It is about generosity. It is about giving out of abundance. It is about giving without expecting anything in return. It is about a God who gives generously, the same to everyone.
We will soon be entering into the fall stewardship campaign. First, I suggest we call it the Fall Pledge Program. You do stewardship really well; you need to work on your pledging. At this time every year we begin to position ourselves, not according to our ability to give, but according to our perceived power. We want to control where our money is spent. We don’t trust the people God has sent, and we have called, to do what is right with our money. You say that isn’t about power, that it’s good business and the church is a business. The church is a business. It is God’s business and without a vision for the church the church will die.
You are in the midst of a search for a new rector. And I kind of want to talk about that. What kind of priest do you want to call as your rector? Do you want someone who has to focus on stewardship and raising money and cutting programs and expenses to save money, as opposed to being your pastor and spiritual advisor? Given your pledging history, what kind of priest will apply?
As an interim I have a unique role to play. I can be more direct than a settled rector. Part of my role is to help you see yourselves as you are seen by the outside world. To mirror back to you, who you are and who you want to be. I have observed that you want to be effective in the community. You desire to provide a positive influence in the neighborhood. You have a social conscience and try to do what is right to make life better for as many people as you can. You have an abundance of love and resources. You have generous hearts and give generously, most of the time.
But your pledging stinks. People who can afford to pledge thousands, pledge very little or nothing at all, while some who have little, actually tithe. What kind of rector do you want to attract? One who has to court the rich and ignore the poor? One who looks like you, who makes you feel good and right no matter how wrong you are? Well, that hasn’t been my experience here.
Most of you want to know a loving God and see God’s love in the person you call rector. Most of you come here to be nourished in word and sacrament. Most of you consider yourselves to be workers in the vineyard. Most of you want to be who God wants you to be: loving one another as God has loved you, sharing in the power of the Spirit rather than seeking to be the powerful, giving without expectation. Hold on to those values. They will guide you well.
So much for the power part of the parable. What about the hospitality part?
Let’s look at the parable again. In the vineyard are workers who were called in the morning and who have been there all along. At noon the landowner goes back to the employment office and hires more workers and then twice more in the late afternoon he hires still more workers.
The landowner has an abundance that’s why he has to keep going back for more workers. That’s what God’s love is all about. That’s the story Jesus is trying to tell us. God’s love is so abundant that there is enough for all of us, those who came in the beginning, those who will come in the end and everyone in between. We are challenged to be gracious to everyone who joins the work of the vineyard. To welcome those who are not native born Duluthians or even Minnesotans, to accept those of us who are not cradle Episcopalians, to assimilate into our community those who haven’t’ known Christ all of their lives. Some of you have been in the vineyard from early morning and some of us have come late in the afternoon. We need not look, act or be treated differently. God loves us all the same and still has more to give to those who are standing at the gate waiting to be called inside. We become agents for God. It is our calling to go to the employment office and invite workers into the vineyard. We are the hands of Christ at work in the world about us. We are the generous heart of God who gives, not according to what is deserved but according to our ability.
We live with an abundance so may we live life abundantly.