Mary Steinberg gave today's reflection. Her specific subject was land use as part of our We are Witnesses theme for the month. September is also creation centered for many churches. In the end her talk was identifying many of the main Creator ministries. The verse from today's lectionary is Matthew 21:23-32.
Mary drew a distinction between direct support for people who need immediate help (like Backpack Buddies and Veteran's Village) with and those who work at systemic change (such as efforts like Catholic Charities with the affordable Good Shepherd apartments helping people with longer term, life-changing needs).
The chief priests and the elders of the people question “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" brings another interesting perspective to Creator ministries.
There is no controversy around direct support but trying to attach Creator's name as a community to systemic change often becomes a different matter. There is something about direct support that is not threatening but systemic change may feel to some people like others are acting as if God is on their side and there is a tendency to want to individualize that effort rather than call it a collective endeavor.
This sheds some light on the next verse regarding the man with two sons. The man went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ He answered, ‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, ‘I go, sir’; but he did not go.
Jesus asks "Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him."
I appreciate all the Creator members who, despite what their ministry is labeled, go and work in the vineyard.
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