Deacon Greg's Homily 10-1-17
After last week’s Parable of the Vineyard, it’s fair to pick up where we left off... The group who worked all day whined a little when the those who only worked for an hour got the same wage… IT’S NOT FAIR!!!!
First Reading from Ezekiel...
You say, "The LORD's way is not fair!" Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
The argument here is that the Lord is asking us to follow his ways, tough as they may be, as compared to the ways of the time, where children were attached to the sins of their parents.
I guess you could say that there was s sense of “what the heck” in the air... I’m condemned any way, so why bother? The Lord wants us to know that EACH OF US is responsible for our choices, and therefore open to the rewards and consequences of our actions. There is no predisposition. We all start from the same place, and we all are given the same opportunity.
Gospel from Matthew...
'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'
The one son said in reply, 'Yes, sir, 'but did not go.
If there’s one thing that all believers and non-believers can recognize, it’s hypocrisy. Quite frankly, it’s the underlying theme of just about every opinion offered. Whether it’s a family argument or an argument about the current political landscape, the gist is this: “You said you would, but you didn’t!” “You say your are, but you’re not!” “I thought you said, but you lied!”
The other Son said in reply, 'I will not, ' but afterwards changed his mind and went.
Can you remember a time in your faith journey when you were given the same invitation, and you responded the same?
When we were younger, our parents said, “Come on, let’s go to church.” We confidently respond, “I WILL NOT!”
During a different period in life, when we just knew all this was too good to be true, and someone said, “Maybe you’d like to come to Mass?” We confidently respond, “I WILL NOT!”
Maybe in the not so distant past, someone came to you for help. They were poor, or struggling due to their own bad choices. They were the ones that did wrong, and hurt someone you loved. They were the sinner, just like you... We confidently respond, “I WILL NOT!”
And yet... HERE YOU ARE!
We all share a past moment when we said “I WILL NOT!”
And today, we all gather here… Flawed individuals simply seeking an opportunity to know, love and serve the Lord!
"(Jesus said,) Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him."
Those who struggle with change need to be given a chance for the Lord to change their hearts, and that takes time. The one son, even though he hesitates, comes to a decision to work and do what was asked of him, while the second talked a good game, but ended up doing nothing! And so our Lord patiently waits, and sometimes keeps on waiting for a while... AND SO SHOULD WE!
For as Paul invites the Philippians in our second reading, we too are invited to “have in [us] the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus!
Paul is likely quoting an ancient hymn… This hymn has six three line stanzas, and its written in two parts. First let us pray, and recite it again.. Open up to page ____
Part One: Christ is the subject of every verb.
CHRIST, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.
(LET GO AND LET GOD)
Rather, CHRIST emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
(EMPTY YOURSELF AND BE FILLED WITH GOD’S LOVE AND PURPOSE)
and found human in appearance,
CHRIST humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death,
(Paul added...) even death on a cross.
(HUMBLE YOURSELF AND DARE TO BE OBEDIENT)
Part Two: God is the subject...
First Reading from Ezekiel...
You say, "The LORD's way is not fair!" Hear now, house of Israel: Is it my way that is unfair, or rather, are not your ways unfair?
The argument here is that the Lord is asking us to follow his ways, tough as they may be, as compared to the ways of the time, where children were attached to the sins of their parents.
I guess you could say that there was s sense of “what the heck” in the air... I’m condemned any way, so why bother? The Lord wants us to know that EACH OF US is responsible for our choices, and therefore open to the rewards and consequences of our actions. There is no predisposition. We all start from the same place, and we all are given the same opportunity.
Gospel from Matthew...
'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.'
The one son said in reply, 'Yes, sir, 'but did not go.
If there’s one thing that all believers and non-believers can recognize, it’s hypocrisy. Quite frankly, it’s the underlying theme of just about every opinion offered. Whether it’s a family argument or an argument about the current political landscape, the gist is this: “You said you would, but you didn’t!” “You say your are, but you’re not!” “I thought you said, but you lied!”
The other Son said in reply, 'I will not, ' but afterwards changed his mind and went.
Can you remember a time in your faith journey when you were given the same invitation, and you responded the same?
When we were younger, our parents said, “Come on, let’s go to church.” We confidently respond, “I WILL NOT!”
During a different period in life, when we just knew all this was too good to be true, and someone said, “Maybe you’d like to come to Mass?” We confidently respond, “I WILL NOT!”
Maybe in the not so distant past, someone came to you for help. They were poor, or struggling due to their own bad choices. They were the ones that did wrong, and hurt someone you loved. They were the sinner, just like you... We confidently respond, “I WILL NOT!”
And yet... HERE YOU ARE!
We all share a past moment when we said “I WILL NOT!”
And today, we all gather here… Flawed individuals simply seeking an opportunity to know, love and serve the Lord!
"(Jesus said,) Amen, I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. When John came to you in the way of righteousness, you did not believe him; but tax collectors and prostitutes did. Yet even when you saw that, you did not later change your minds and believe him."
Those who struggle with change need to be given a chance for the Lord to change their hearts, and that takes time. The one son, even though he hesitates, comes to a decision to work and do what was asked of him, while the second talked a good game, but ended up doing nothing! And so our Lord patiently waits, and sometimes keeps on waiting for a while... AND SO SHOULD WE!
For as Paul invites the Philippians in our second reading, we too are invited to “have in [us] the same attitude that is also in Christ Jesus!
Paul is likely quoting an ancient hymn… This hymn has six three line stanzas, and its written in two parts. First let us pray, and recite it again.. Open up to page ____
Part One: Christ is the subject of every verb.
CHRIST, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.
(LET GO AND LET GOD)
Rather, CHRIST emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
(EMPTY YOURSELF AND BE FILLED WITH GOD’S LOVE AND PURPOSE)
and found human in appearance,
CHRIST humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death,
(Paul added...) even death on a cross.
(HUMBLE YOURSELF AND DARE TO BE OBEDIENT)
Part Two: God is the subject...
Because of this, GOD greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
which is above every name,
(GOD LOVES YOU, AND HE GIVES YOU ALL THAT HE HAS, SO THAT AS YOU EXALT THE NAME OF CHRIST, OTHER WILL SEE HIM IN YOU, AND DO THE SAME!)
that at the name of Jesus (GOD SAYS)
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
(WE MUST CONTINUE TO WORSHIP KNOWING THAT WE ARE TRULY IN GOD’S MIDST... AS HE IS AT WORK HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE.)
and (GOD SAYS) every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of GOD the Father.
(RENEW OUR BAPTISMAL PROMISE...)
(A life in Christ is a life lived, with Christ living through you!)
Finally, let me offer you a condensed and summarized version of a prayer that has entered my life recently. Originally titled “Laying Down My Burdens,” in a collection of prayers called “Prayer Seeds,” written by Sr. Joyce Rupp, I offer this so that we all might seize this opportunity to humble ourselves before the Lord, making us ready to enter the vineyard of this coming week, as recommitted and authentic disciples, ready to do the work of the Lord! READY? Let us pray…
Lord, many are the burdens that press with force upon us, pushing their energy upon mind and heart, lessening our ability to love well.
Today let us choose to release their useless weight.
Let us ready ourselves to stop dragging them along side, and be willing to lay them down before your cross O Lord.
Today, give us the courage to let them go, and let YOU into our hearts, and deliberately move into our week ahead with fresh freedom, placing faith in your strength and compassion.
Today, we leave our burdens here with you, O lord, and with your help…
We will not take them back!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit… AMEN!
and bestowed on him the name
which is above every name,
(GOD LOVES YOU, AND HE GIVES YOU ALL THAT HE HAS, SO THAT AS YOU EXALT THE NAME OF CHRIST, OTHER WILL SEE HIM IN YOU, AND DO THE SAME!)
that at the name of Jesus (GOD SAYS)
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
(WE MUST CONTINUE TO WORSHIP KNOWING THAT WE ARE TRULY IN GOD’S MIDST... AS HE IS AT WORK HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE.)
and (GOD SAYS) every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of GOD the Father.
(RENEW OUR BAPTISMAL PROMISE...)
(A life in Christ is a life lived, with Christ living through you!)
Finally, let me offer you a condensed and summarized version of a prayer that has entered my life recently. Originally titled “Laying Down My Burdens,” in a collection of prayers called “Prayer Seeds,” written by Sr. Joyce Rupp, I offer this so that we all might seize this opportunity to humble ourselves before the Lord, making us ready to enter the vineyard of this coming week, as recommitted and authentic disciples, ready to do the work of the Lord! READY? Let us pray…
Lord, many are the burdens that press with force upon us, pushing their energy upon mind and heart, lessening our ability to love well.
Today let us choose to release their useless weight.
Let us ready ourselves to stop dragging them along side, and be willing to lay them down before your cross O Lord.
Today, give us the courage to let them go, and let YOU into our hearts, and deliberately move into our week ahead with fresh freedom, placing faith in your strength and compassion.
Today, we leave our burdens here with you, O lord, and with your help…
We will not take them back!
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit… AMEN!
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