October 4 Part 2
“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God”? Micah 6:8 (NRSV)
Reading. Philippians 3:4b-14 In our worldly society self made men or women are greatly admired. However Paul reminds his readers to have no confidence in who they are or from where they have come. In terms of relationship to God and the things of God, the Jews considered that they were already in a privileged position. Paul asks them to seriously reconsider. At the time of Jesus the Pharisees were regarded as being amongst the most holy and righteous of all the Jews. Paul believed that he had been a Pharisee of the Pharisees; despite this he now recognises that whatever gain he had drawn from his heritage he now considers as of no account. Paul has had a change of heart and is no longer willing to trust in what he was or on what he was doing. It is the resurrection of Jesus that has led him to this change of mind. Having met Jesus on the Damascus road and no doubt listened to the stories of the disciples who had seen Jesus alive after the crucifixion, Paul understood that Jesus’ resurrection marked a profound change. “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.” 1 Corinthians 15:20 (NRSV) In the risen Jesus the rescue of the creation and all that it contained had begun, and Paul wants to be a part of that new dispensation. He knows that he still had to persevere with this present life but his longing is to share in the resurrected life with Jesus. With this in mind Paul urges himself on, always with a hope of future resurrection and subsequently life with Jesus Christ. Reading on a few verses from our present passage we see that Paul is encouraging his readers to set their sights on this future goal for he says, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself”. Philippians 3:20-21 (NRSV) This reminder is pertinent for all of us today just as it was to the people of Paul’s era. Through trusting in Jesus our citizenship is held for us in heaven, the place where God is and by trusting in that fact we, just like Paul, can look forward to a resurrected life in the company of Jesus Christ
Prayer. Almighty God through whom we live and move and have our being, we thank you for the promise that we have through Jesus Christ for future hope with you. We thank you too that not only in the future but day by day you continue to care for us and watch over us. For all the blessings of this life we praise you and trusting in your mighty power we pray that our lives may always be lived in order to give you honour and glory. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Saviour and Lord. Amen
Reading. Matthew 21:33-46. The people listening to Jesus as he told this parable would have found the meaning both clear and also confronting. The hedged vineyard with a watchtower was a familiar description of Israel and her special relationship with the Lord. (Isaiah ch. 5). There was a longing for the Messiah to come, establish the kingdom and bring in a time when the Lord and all Israel would be once more in obedient harmony. As Jesus told the parable it would have become quite clear that the action of the king was to expel the chosen leaders and bring in a new people to inherit and occupy the kingdom. The message was clear that once again the teachers and leaders had lost their way and had failed to form a proper relationship to their God in life and worship. This was not a new message for Israel’s leaders to hear. “in all the vineyards there shall be wailing, for I will pass through the midst of you, says the Lord”. Amos 5:17 (NRSV) The nation had fallen from grace because they had not produced the harvest of righteousness that the Lord had wanted. “For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting; he expected justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry!” Isaiah 5:7 (NRSV)
In addition Jesus takes the parable a step further and teaches that the rejection will come when the son, the Messiah, is killed. As the Pharisees were already plotting to have him put away this must have truly been a stinging word. Not only did the parable indicate that the chosen leaders and teachers would be expelled but then the way would be open for a new people all together to take their place. This would mean a new nation gathering around the Messiah. However the parable also reinforces the understanding that the Lord of the vineyard will continue to expect a harvest of righteousness. “He will …, lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.” Matthew 21:41 (NRSV)
A question for us to consider is, “If we are followers of the Messiah, where do we stand in giving back to God the harvest which is his due”?
Prayer. Almighty and eternal God, you are able to do abundantly more than we can ever ask or think: Give us grace to believe that the things which seem impossible to logical minds are, according to your word, completely possible with you. Save us from doubting your goodness and all questioning of your love. Help us to trust in your wisdom and mercy, that we may be calm and unafraid as we face life together with you. In your kingdom all who trust can find a place of safety and love. By your grace, bless our homes and those whom we love. We ask that your protection, though often unseen, will keep us in perfect peace and harmony. By your calling may we seek to serve others, using the gifts you bring to us which enable us to be more effective in our service. Refresh every heart and life Lord and may the blessings of your salvation touch every part of our life together. Amen
Collect. Jesus, cornerstone, prophet of the reign of God, you come, and are rejected; you come, to suffer and die. Come to us today, and produce in us the fruit of obedience, for you are the Christ of God. Amen.
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