Sunday, September 24, 2023

Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Revised Common Lectionary passages for the Lord’s Day are:
– First Reading: Exodus 16:2-15
– Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45
– Second Reading: Philippians 1:21-30
– Gospel Reading: Matthew 20:1-16

The liturgical color for the day is: Green

We are workers, so we make it about the workers, and it offends our sense of fairness.  Hey friends, sometimes it just is not about us.  This is one of those times.  It is about the landowner—he gives everyone in the story a denarius.  It is a day’s wages; it is what it takes to get through the day.  They all receive it.

That landowner is the way God is—all in—everyone.  It is not about earthly fairness—it is not about earning your way in.  It is about God’s justice.  It is about the justice of this generous grace and mercy God.  All receive.

What if we looked at others in the way God sees them?  What if we treated people in a just way with the compassion that God extends?  What if, in this world of major change we were, as God, all in with seeing ALL others as loved by God? 

One needs only to look at social media or watch a few minutes of television to know that we are quick to deem others as wrong, stupid, bad, and so on.  Every person we look at that way—God is “all in” with love for that person.  What if, we, like God, were “all in” with love for others?

—

Rev. Dr. Daris Bultena
General Presbyter and Stated Clerk