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Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Gospel:
Matthew 20: 1-16
All of God's Love
Highlighted
Verses: Matthew 20: 1-16
“For
the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the
morning to
hire laborers for his vineyard. 2After agreeing with
the laborers
for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3When he
went out about nine o”clock, he saw others standing idle in the
marketplace; 4and
he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you
whatever is
right.’ So they went. 5When he went out again
about noon and about
three o”clock, he did the same. 6And 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?’ 7They said to him,
‘Because no one has hired
us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ 8When 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.’ 9When
those hired about five o”clock came, each of them received the usual
daily
wage. 10Now when the first
came, they thought they would receive more;
but each of them also received the usual daily wage. 11And when they
received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12saying, ‘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.’ 13But he replied to
one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with
me for
the usual daily wage? 14Take what belongs to
you and go; I choose to
give to this last the same as I give to you. 15Am I not allowed to
do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I
am
generous?’ 16So the last will be
first, and the first will be last.”
(NOTE: This week's sermon begins with several personal references.
Adapt to your own circumstances as appropriate.)
Did I ever tell you that I have two sisters? How about you? Raise your
hand if you have any brothers
or sisters.
Now, I am the oldest child in my family - but that doesn't mean I was
(or am) any more special to my parents. When they tucked my sisters
into bed they never once
said, "I love you...but I
love your brother a little bit more because he's been here longer."
That sounds almost silly, doesn't it? Our parents loved us all just the same - and as much as they
could.
The same thing is true at school, isn't it? When a new student come
into class we wouldn't expect the teacher to say, "I'll teach you a few things, but not as many as the
kids who were here first." Instead he or she becomes a part of the
class - and just as important as
everyone else.
In this week's Gospel lesson Jesus tells a story to help us understand
that God's love is just the same way.
He tells about a man who hires some helpers one morning to work in his
fields. Then later in the afternoon he finds some more helpers and
hires them too. At the end of the day he pays everyone just the same - for the whole day - even though
some of the workers were there longer than the others.
God's love works the same way. He doesn't love you more because you're
older or because you've come to church longer. That's because God's love doesn't come in
little pieces. Once you have it you have all of it.
Isn't that a great
thing to know? God loves us all - and loves
us the same.
Let's pray.
Dear God,
Thank you for giving us all of your love. Help us to love others in
just the same way.
Amen.
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