How Are Ya Doin?
Matthew 20:1-16 with Philippians 1:21-30 in the b.g. (Pentecost 14a11) September 18, 2011
Main thought – in God's rule/reign/good and gracious oversight, the order is not what we would think or even like and certainly not deserve. We are blessed to work and live (daily bread). We are blessed to love and be loved – to know that we are not alone. Live with that/ a life worthy of the Gospel.
Malady – so easily upset, angry, self righteous.
How are you doing? Take a moment, enter that reality – how are you doing in your relationship with others: parishioners, friends, family (children, spouse, parents)? How are you doing in your relationship with God? Is there a still joy there? Is there a hunger to just be with God, to listen, to pour your heart out? Do you still believe/ trust? Good questions. How are you doing?
This is my 11th time preaching in 47 days. They have included some really important occasions and events in people's lives. Last week I preached at the funeral of a 34 year old man, Corbin. He had been awaiting a liver transplant. 20 years ago Corbin had been in my confirmation class. Two weeks before his death we had reconnected while he was in Vancouver General. Our conversations had been good. He was very excited about a second chance at life – a new career, being a better father to his 1 ½ year old daughter and a better, more present husband to his wife who had been carrying the ball of so many responsibilities these last 2 years while he had been so sick. However Corbin wasn't allowed to stay in Vancouver. He was sent home to wait for the transplant which was to happen this coming Monday. While there Corbin contracted infection and died. Corbin's funeral was one of my 11 sermons.
Sunday night marked a commemorative service for 9-11. In Richmond we had an interfaith service: Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Sikh. I was asked to be one of the representatives of the Christian tradition. I was to give a reading and share some reflection. Weren't there Interesting texts last week? ON forgiveness – the same day as Kienan Hebert was returned, the same day that we remembered the attacks on the towers and the beginning of the US declaration on the war against terrorism. In the presence of a varied interfaith community I gave another of my 11 sermons.
In the last few months I have discovered something interesting about our septic tank at the church. Yes, God bless Richmond, where everyone on the East Side of 4 Road cannot hook up to sewer because the sewage line running down the center of 4 Road is owned by the Department of National Defense. God forbid, that civilians, tax paying citizens of this country should ever be allowed o dump their sewage into such a line, even if they are willing to pay substantial additional sums to do so.
Throw into that our car not starting a week ago Wednesday with the battery, alternator and spark plugs all shot and the American government suddenly starting to demand that all American citizens living outside of the US disclose their foreign bank accounts accompanied by significant financial penalties for not having disclosed something most of them knew nothing about. Well all of that's been part of the terrain of my life the last 6 weeks.
I don't tell you these things to make you feel sorry for me . But I tell you these things to have us honestly reflect on how we are doing. Sometimes I just plain get tired.
So, how are you doing?
To all of these thoughts and feelings come Jesus' parable of the kingdom of heaven – that reality where God rules, even here and now, though we may not be able to quite glimpse such rule. This parable follows on the heels of Matthew's 19 th chapter where in spelling out the rewards for the disciples' sacrifice Jesus says that MANY WHO ARE FIRST WILL BE LAST, AND THE LAST WILL BE FIRST.
The parable hits home, right where we are, whether we are delighted with how we or others we cherish are doing and celebrating that or whether life feels at times like just one darn thing after another. In the parable everyone is given work. Everyone is given a calling, something important to be and do. Although, I sometimes have the ability to turn those "somethings" into burdens instead of gifts, by attempting to do them by myself, or perfectly or doggedly without a Sabbath or a rest or a break or leisure, those "somethings" are intended to be good, if not always easy.
What would our lives be like without these people that keep showing up? We might think – "Ah, God, for just a while it would be so nice. Give me a Costa Rican beach for a month baby or hot cup of coffee without any worries". But even there and then I suspect people would show up. And that could be more than OK. Even that could be a blessing.
The other thing about this parable that amazes me – IS THAT ALL ARE GIVEN ENOUGH. A denarius wasn't a lot. A person didn't become financially independent making a denarius per day. But you and your family would have your basic needs met on a denarius per day. As North Americans we may think , "So what"? But let me tell you having our basic needs met – and allowing others to share in our gifts, our daily bread so that their needs can be met – is meaningful. Such living can be marked by joy and hope. If you doubt me, turn on CBC or the BBC and wait for reports from Libya or the Horn of Africa.
Truly, at times we may become frustrated because others, who may not from our standpoint be in the trenches in the same way or for as long as we have been, are also richly blessed by God. I mean, come on God. But honestly, what's our problem: are our eyes evil because God is good and gracious - even to those who do things that make our blood boil?
So, reflect on how you are doing. We are privileged to be here together. We are richly blessed to have experienced the love and forgiveness of God throughout our lives. As Pastor Hergy has said to me," we are fortunate Le Drew, they are still paying us to preach and teach and do what most of the time what we love to do." And that's true. By the promise of God we will also be loved in Christ forever.
Come to think of it this rule/reign/sphere of God isn't what I would have thought up. My way probably would have had a few winners and lots of losers: those people who are lazy , or who don't pay attention or worse yet, don't really care about anyone but themselves, or try so hard to take advantage of others, particularly the weak and vulnerable. But my way, our ways often aren't God's ways. Thanks be to God for that!
So, how are you doing?
Thanks be to God that God still loves us, through God's Son and God's Son's life, death and resurrection. Thanks be to God that God doesn't give up on us even when we aren't doing or acting so well. Through God's Spirit and the circumstances and people that God's Spirit moves, God continues to call, gather and enlighten even us. So, thanks be to God for that Gospel. As St. Paul admonishes the Philippian Christians, MAY WE BY GOD'S GRACE live lives worthy of the Gospel however we are doing.
Who knows what might happen then? Perhaps the categories/feelings of first and last will be displaced, removed. Instead all/many will experience being cherished and belonging to God. And who knows then we might realize that we also belong TOGETHER. Amen and Amen.