Proper 20 - Sunday, September 20, 2020

Proper 20 -Sunday, September 20, 2020

The 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. 

First Lesson Exodus 16:2-15 

The whole congregation of the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.” Then the LORD said to Moses, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you, and each day the people shall go out and gather enough for that day. In that way I will test them, whether they will follow my instruction or not. On the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on other days.” So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you shall know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD, because he has heard your complaining against the LORD. For what are we, that you complain against us?” And Moses said, “When the LORD gives you meat to eat in the evening and your fill of bread in the morning, because the LORD has heard the complaining that you utter against him—what are we? Your complaining is not against us but against the LORD.” Then Moses said to Aaron, “Say to the whole congregation of the Israelites, ‘Draw near to the LORD, for he has heard your complaining.’ “And as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the Israelites, they looked toward the wilderness, and the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud. The LORD spoke to Moses and said, “I have heard the complaining of the Israelites; say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning, you shall have your fill of bread; then you shall know that I am the LORD your God.’ “ In the evening quails came up and covered the camp; and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. When the layer of dew lifted, there on the surface of the wilderness was a fine flaky substance, as fine as frost on the ground. When the Israelites saw it, they said to one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. Moses said to them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.

 Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45

 1 Give thanks to the LORD and call upon his Name; * make known his deeds among the peoples.

 2 Sing to him, sing praises to him, * and speak of all his marvelous works. 

3 Glory in his holy Name; * let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.

 4 Search for the LORD and his strength; * continually seek his face.

 5 Remember the marvels he has done, * his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,

 6 O offspring of Abraham his servant, * O children of Jacob his chosen.

 37 He led out his people with silver and gold; * in all their tribes there was not one that stumbled.

 38 Egypt was glad of their going, * because they were afraid of them.

 39 He spread out a cloud for a covering * and a fire to give light in the night season.

 40 They asked, and quails appeared, * and he satisfied them with bread from heaven.

 41 He opened the rock, and water flowed, * so the river ran in the dry places.

 42. For God remembered his holy word * and Abraham his servant. 

43 So he led forth his people with gladness, * his chosen with shouts of joy.

 44 He gave his people the lands of the nations, * and they took the fruit of others' toil,

 45 That they might keep his statutes * and observe his laws. Hallelujah!

 The Second Lesson Philippians 1:21-30

 To me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which I prefer. I am hard pressed between the two: my desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better; but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus when I come to you again. Only, live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that, whether I come and see you or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, but of your salvation. And this is God's doing. For he has graciously granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for him as well-- since you are having the same struggle that you saw I had and now hear that I still have. 

The Gospel 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.”

The Last Will Be First - A Sunday Litany

Gracious Creator who made humanity good

in great variety, beauty, strength and voice

you call us to our knees as the season turns

for we have been complicit in holding others back.

Free us, Lord from our vanity and selfishness.

You have given us minds with which to compromise

hearts that can bend in compassion for others

you call us by name, all your beloved children

yet we crawl over others to be first in line.

Remake us, Lord, with hearts full of humility.

We have lost so much in this year of pandemic

great souls, like Ruth and John have left this earth

strangers and neighbors have been taken from us

we ache to blame someone and cry with the loss.

Hear our hearts, dear Lord, for they are breaking.

You promise that as we bend to serve others

we will know you in their smile and in their eyes

you will renew our spirits and fill us with hope

so that we can keep walking the justice road.

Make us those, Lord, who are always ready to love. 

We lay before you the weary and the lonely

Lord, have mercy.

We lay before you our pride and our selfishness.

Lord, have mercy.

We lay before you the fears of our nation.

Lord, have mercy.

We lay before you the health of our planet.

Lord, have mercy.

We lay before you all our joys and sorrows

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, we ask that you make us whole again.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.

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