This Vineyard

Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?’ Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me.’ They argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven”, he will say, “Why then did you not believe him?” But shall we say, “Of human origin”?’—they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’ Then he began to speak to them in parables. ‘A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watch-tower; then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his share of the produce of the vineyard. But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. And again he sent another slave to them; this one they beat over the head and insulted. Then he sent another, and that one they killed. And so it was with many others; some they beat, and others they killed. He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” But those tenants said to one another, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.” So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this scripture: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes”?’ When they realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowd. So they left him and went away. Mark 11:27-12:12

The world is full on those who take more than their due. There are folks who believe more money and more land will make them happy and solve all their problems. There are also people in the church who yearn for positions of power so much that they are willing to walk all over people. We have all seen it. And yet, Jesus tells us a story, as he is always telling stories, to teach us the right way to live. We are called to a life of service, plain and simple. All of us, in every walk of life. Jesus set an example by his life and his stories. May that be said of us as well.

Gracious Creator, this earth is a gem of beauty

you tell us the ancient stories to teach us love

you show us humility and compassion by example

and accompany us on our daily walk to follow you.

We too often get sidetracked by shiny glass

we put too much value in the things that decay

we worship the famous and the beautiful

forgetting that only your love is eternal.

Create in us new hearts and minds, O Lord

shape us into your loving, faithful followers

make us those who rise up to serve others

carrying your love to an anxious, hurting world. Amen.