For Sunday, September 20, 2020, Readings: Exodus 16:2-15, Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45, Philippians 1:21-30, Matthew 20:1-16
The Israelites said to [Moses and Aaron], "If only we
had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we...ate our fill
of bread..." [Exodus 16:3a]
Glory
in his holy Name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Search for
the LORD and his strength; continually seek his face. [Psalm
105:3-4]
Only, live your life
in a manner worth of the gospel of Christ...standing firm in one spirit,
striving side by side with one mind for the faith of the gospel, and are in no
way intimidated by your opponents.
[Philippians
1:27-28]
When
the first came, they thought they'd receive more...they grumbled against the
landowner. But he replied to one of them..."Take what belongs to you. I
choose to give to this last the same as I give to you..." So the last will
be first, and the first will be last.
[Matthew 20:10a, 11b, 13a, 14, 16]
God rescued the Israelites from generations of
horrific slavery and tortuous lives. After sending plague upon plague to dazzle
Pharaoh and persuade him to Let God's People GO. When Pharoah said yes and then
changed his mind, God parted The Red (aka Reed) Sea so they could still escape. With
the initial lack of food and water, the euphoria of getting away gave way to
despair for the loss of what they'd left behind. But the unknown road became
more frightening than the known hardships they had fled, even with the proven
leadership of Moses and Aaron and their demonstrated relationship with God. And
so the whole congregation complained against Moses and
Aaron, saying, "If only we had died by the hand of
the LORD in the land of Egypt..." [Exodus 16:2-3, emphasis added] God followed through on another promise
and generously provided the meat and bread to fill them but it wouldn't be the
last time they grumbled. Perhaps they didn't feel that they had gotten what
they expected or what they felt they deserved. In any case, even after their
release from Egypt, the parting of the Sea, the meals delivered by frost and
wing, they hadn't learned to trust in God.
The vineyard laborers in the parable of Jesus aren't happy
that the Landowner is simply using his prerogative to be generous. Same pay for
an hour's work for the last hour as for a full day - who wouldn't get upset
about that? Don't those who worked longer and did more work deserve more?
How many of us Good Christian People would grumble about that Landowner in the
parking lot? If only we could feel - and stop -
the creeping envy, greed, and judgment filling us. If only we
could freely accept someone’s simple generosity to another without feeling as
if we were somehow betrayed. Do we ever learn?
It's a difficult balance to fight for equity and
fairness for ourselves and others in our temporal life, while relinquishing
jealousy and anger at not getting what we perceive is deserved.
God isn't leading us by clouds and pillars of fire these days, but by the
Word of Christ. Am I seeking it first? Am I hearing? Am I listening?
Am I following? Am I trusting? My prayer is to try to find that balance, to
not leave releasing envy and grumbling to the last; and, oh yes: Dear
Lord, if only You will save me from all that I just deserve...
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ Most Generous God, if only we could
remember that Your love for us is limitless as we grumble and complain about
fairness in this life. Fill us again with the Living Bread to stand firm
with one spirit, to strive together with one mind, for the faith in Christ’s
Gospel now, and for the Life to come.
O Lord, our
God
RESPONSE: Keep us
Gospel worthy
~ Most Generous God, grant us a voice that will move political
leaders locally, nationally, and globally to act always on behalf of humanity, mercy,
and justice. We pray
especially for: add your own petitions
O
Lord, our God
Keep
us Gospel worthy
~ Most Generous God, enfold all who suffer in body, mind, or
spirit into Your loving Cloud of Hope, and lift the spirits of those who give
them care. We now join our hearts
together to pray for those in need…
O
Lord, our God
Keep
us Gospel worthy
~ Most Generous God, we commend to Your eternal embrace all, still
loved in this life, who now live again and forever with Christ. We pray especially for…
O
Lord, our God
Keep
us Gospel worthy
~ Most Generous God, we pause
in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions,
petitions, and memorials…
O
Lord, our God
Keep
us Gospel worthy
~ Most Generous God, grant
unlimited energy and ceaseless wisdom to all who have been chosen to elevate
Your Church into a vibrant community of faith in every circumstance of Life. We pray especially
for: add your own petitions
O
Lord, our God
Keep
us Gospel worthy
The Celebrant adds: O God of Eternal
Permanence, compel our souls to desire life with Christ first in
our every thought and action, and not leave the release of all judgment, greed,
and envy within us to the last. We ask this grace through Jesus,
our Hope and our Salvation; and the Holy Spirit, our Advocate and Sanctifier;
who live and reign together with You, now and forever. Amen.
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