mamabishop: Sunday, September 24th

Saturday, September 23, 2023

Sunday, September 24th - Proper 20

The Last Will Be First

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.” Matthew 20:1-16

I have watched as many institutions, including the church, struggle with the issues of racism. Faithful, kind people, want to make right the ravages of slavery. And it is a very good thing. I also see, way too often, well-meaning leaders, overlooking the people who have been here all along, who had their land stolen, their ancestors murdered and their children abused. Jesus' parable breathes new life into the work we do as Christians. We are not to follow fashion, thinking ourselves righteous and good. Instead, we are to look to the excluded, the denied the shut out. They will be and truly are our leaders. These are the ones who have waited prayerfully and believed the promises of God.

A Sunday Litany

Great Creator, you breathe us into existence

you pour your life-giving spirit into all flesh

lifting us from the depths of worry and despair

daily renewing your promises to everyone.