October 8, 2023 - Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost - We Are Witnesses - Pat Salisbury's Reflection - Creator's Work in God's Vineyard

The Ephesians reading today became more meaningful to me as the day progressed and the world learned about the Israeli Hamas conflict. Ephesians 4:25-28:

"Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body. “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. Anyone who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with their own hands, that they may have something to share with those in need."

The world is angered by the atrocities being reported. As far as the State of Israel is concerned,Gaza is under the control of Hamas, and it is responsible for all the training and activities there. There are hostages and hundreds of Israelis have paid with their lives. Are we all members of one body? Where there is anger will we refrain from sinning or insure a price is exacted for the actions Hamas has taken today and to destroy the military capabilities of Hamas to ever carry out terrorism again.

Enough, however, about the state of the world. In her reflection today Pat Salisbury started with an observation about the Golden Rule and testified why Creator does the actions that it does "we give our lives, our hearts and our souls to others" 

I took Pat's words to heart. Many Creator members, and congregations as a whole do things, not for recognition but as a gift that comes from their hearts to make a better world.   

If we were following the Revised Standard Lectionary the Gospel reading would be Matthew 21:33-46.

 What can be learned from Pat's reflection when we consider the Parable of the Wicked Tenants. There is a perspective shift we can make as we live our lives as laborers in the vineyard. How often do we see ourselves as tenants of the vineyard rather than the owner? In this world too often we become the rational builders who reject the stone that ultimately is the cornerstone in the kingdom of God.

The tenants view is ultimately shortsighted. When thy see the son, they say to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance." And Jesus asks the challenging question "Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" 

Instead the tenants would be better to recognize the true owner and that can motivate a better reason for their labor.