Respect

‘Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watch-tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.” So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They said to him, ‘He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes”? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.’ When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet. Matthew 21:33-46

As very small children we are taught to respect our elders, especially, and to listen quietly when they are speaking. No matter how regal or downtrodden, our elders have great wisdom to share. We are taught to respect and honor all living beings, including the very earth we live on. Greedily taking advantage of others has no place. Too often these days, we are so wrapped up in getting what we want, we do not recognize the wisdom and knowledge around us. We are invited today to renew our respect for the earth, for our elders and for all living beings. We have not listened enough nor have we respected enough and now we are paying the consequences.

Gracious Creator you brought us into being

setting us into families and communities

deep wells of insight and great knowledge

and poured your spirit on all who listen.

We have grown impatient and greedy

unwilling to learn from our loving elders

anxious to take control and be in charge

when we barely understand how life works.

Let us quiet down our need and greed today

and instead learn to settle in and listen

for much wisdom abounds in our elders

and in the world you love and heal. Amen.