My first thought on the beginning of this passage is that my companions-on-the-walk do question in their own minds (and don't often express)"By what authority did/does Jesus say and do what he did?" Is he of divine origin or of human? And since they are pretty sure that the church's answer is "DIVINE!", they don't express the thought "Human, like us!!?" Only in church is there a presumption that Jesus was divine. In the secular world (OUR world) nobody is divine. Why should Jesus be any different? And what's the matter with human, charismatic authority anyway?
One could get into a long analysis of the two natures of Christ here. May or may not be helpful to the congregation. I'm just confident that we would help some in our parishioners if we opened the door to honestly laboring over the question of whether we, ourselves, see Jesus' authority as something we are ALLOWED to have an opinion about.
No opinion is expressed in the story--and that very lack seems to be condemned. Better to have SOME opinion, and bring it forward, than to deny having an opinion.
Better to say Jesus is "just" human and then follow his teachings/actions, than to say he is "divine" and merely applaud from the audience. ???
Maybe too heretical to preach, but may be where some of our people are sitting.
Sara in GR, MI
Having read many of the scholarly observations on this lesson I believe you folks have missed the most basic point. Jesus had (has still and I look forward to hearing Him in Heaven) an incredible sense of humor. Any time he spoke of pigs he was making his listeners laugh. Here he ties the authorities in knots with a question they cannot answer without getting in big trouble. It was a funny question he asked them and he put them in a funny position and His followers would have been laughing. You deep thinkers ought to lighten up and see that Jesus had a great following because His message was true and His style was full of fun and laughter. This is a classic funny scene and few ever mention it. When I get to Heaven I plan to listen for the biggest laughs. That will be Jesus talking and I will go and listen. Don't you think that the perfect man probably had a perfect sense of humor?
The verse that says "the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you" reminds me of a short story with an image like this. I believe it was by Flannery O'Connor but haven't been able to find it; anyone know where this comes from? It was a kind of parade going up into heaven, and it seemed as if all kinds of strange and crazy people were dancing their way in, while the church people were following along behind, embarrassed to be associated with "that kind". It was wonderfully written, and I'd love to use it if someone recognizes this! Thanks! KB in WA
KB in WA Right! It was O"Connor. It was a short story about a pig farmer who fancied herself superior to other people. She had a concrete slab for the pigs and washed it with the hose. It was in the rainbow spray of the hose water that she had the vision of an esclator on which all the people she detested and stuck her nose up at were ascending. Can't recall the title but it was in a collection of her short stories that included the one about the Lawn Jockey.
. JW in NY
To whoever made the comment about Jesus speaking about pigs to make his followers laugh. I must admit your statement about pigs in connection with this text about the two sons puzzled me. Then later I wondered if you were connecting Luke's story about two sons in the famous prodigal story to the two sons in Matthews' story in 21:23-32. I found a mention of pigs there in Luke's story. But the story under discussion is Matthew's story of the parable of the two sons which is told in quite a different context. Would you care to clarify? JML in SC
Real life illustration: May be better as an illustration of "the good samaritan," but works pretty well here. Our neighboring church recently hired a new pastor who seems to want to take the community by storm. No problem with that, except that he's "scooped" us with our own ideas several times - including using a modified version of our own "slogan" (but we're smarter now) and in a way I consider tacky - red white and blue helium balloons advertising the "community" 9/11 service that our church had started. Anyways, they've got a fancy calling machine that's telemarketing their church in the community (have to admit I'm a little jealous of their much larger labor pool and of their financial resources). I met the pastor and he praised God and testified and seemed really eager to serve the Lord.
A homeless man greeted me on my way in to the office yesterday. I was late, about 10:00 AM, and the man told me he'd stopped by that church but that the pastor was too busy to help him. I gave him my breakfast (a rice crispy bar and diet coke) and found some resources for shelters. The man was obviously a little bit mentally ill, and ended up not calling the resources. He asked for a blanket and it seems that's all he wanted.
My question: while I'm sliding into judgmentalism and jealousy of this other church, I wonder which of us is doing God's work? The other church is able to reach out actively while our church is still trying to get the basics of discipleship down. The other church is growing and has programs and praise music. Our church, if it's not "How Great Thou Art," folks barely sing! Our church is declining.
But ... a human soul in need comes to your doorstep, and you're too busy?
Tell me, which of us is doing Christ's work? It seems we both are and we both arent', in different ways.
rather stay anonymous
Dear anonymous,
Amen and blessings to you and your ministry. Keep your passion. Keep your
dedication. Let your frustration be salved by the assurance that you ARE
preaching in word and deed.
Yes, the neighboring church may be growing in numbers while yours is declining
IN NUMBERS. But if numbers were the only thing, Jesus might have used a fountain
to spray holy water for healing on great crowds. Instead, he took time for
people one at a time, trusting his followers to reach out in like manner.
Some people "hire" a person to whom they give the title 'pastor,' but that
person is more adminstrator than pastor. Keep being pastor in your community.
You are needed, especially when others are "too busy." And teach your people how
to receive others graciously, and not to be jealous of things that are
different, but not any more salvific.
Peace.
Michelle
I posted a story at the end of last week, that I thought might be one you
could use anytime... speaking of Grace...
(Sept. 22) The Today Show had a great "sermon illustration about GRACE" last
Thursday Sept. 19...
[John Gagliardi] Saint John's University legendary head coach John Gagliardi
will celebrate his 50th season as head coach in Collegeville during the 2002
season. Gagliardi will begin his 54th season as a collegiate head football
coach. Saint John's University P.O. Box 2000 Collegeville, MN 56321 Tel. (320)
363-2011
His coaching methods have been distilled into a series of "Winning With Nos,"
some of which are listed below.
* No blocking sleds or dummies * No scholarships * No spring practices * No
compulsory weightlifting program * No whistles * No "coach" - players call him
John * No "ONE" team captain, 2002 has 25 Team Captains... why? Coach Gagliardi
said, "Because it looks good on their resume' * No tackling in practice -
players wear shorts or sweats * Short practices - an hour and a half or less
Each year, over 150 students turn out to be part of the Saint John's program.
Through his current and former players, his accomplishments on and off the field
and his place in the records of NCAA football, John Gagliardi had built a legacy
that is unrivaled in college football.
Contributed by pulpitt in ND
Several years ago, my seminary class visited the historic cemetery that sat kitty-corner from the school. The caretaker was very proud of the "founding fathers" of the community who were buried there, and noted that the land would remain a cemetery for at least 800 more years. When I asked him how he knew this, he pointed to the framed deed to the land that stated that the land use was restricted for 999 years. I started to laugh, which unnerved the caretaker. "The value of that deed is only as good as those who are in authority are willing to recognize it. Just ask the native people who were here before this deed was written."
The priests' claim to divine authority seems to be based on the people believing that the priests' authority is divine. If the priests don't recognize John's authority as divine (as the people did), then they have abdicated their authority to speak on behalf of the divine, in the eyes of the people. And if the priests recognize John's authority as divine, then they have abdicated their authority to speak on behalf of the divine since they did not believe John's baptism. The authentication of their authority rested with the people -- a dangerous proposition when dealing with something as important as Truth.
Jesus, however, sets up a different scenario for judging authority with his parable. Both sons are commanded to go and work in the vineyard. Lip service, pro and con, doesn't matter -- it's what they do that shows their true response to the owner/father's command. They will know we are Christians by our love, not by our creeds!
OLAS
In a way, this text is good news for those of us who want to preach Christ without preaching. (A man named Cardinal Newman prayed "let me preach thee without preaching.")(And I read, the source I now know not whereof, "Just because her faith is so sure, Mother Teresa has no need to be an evangelist in the old propagandist sense. She preaches Christ every moment of every day by living in and for him.") It is not what we say that is important, it is how we live our lives. However, in a way, this is challenging, even
condemning, words, for those of us who aren't all that proud in how far our actions are from our desires and best understandings of God's dream. Preaching in Pincher.
Who is the first son?
Who is the second son?
Is this Matthew's Parable of the Prodigal Son? If so it is upside down - the first son responds finally; the second son declines in the end; yet Jesus calls the tax collectors and sinners the first son; and Israel the second son. What does all this mean? The more you reflect on the Parable the more upside down you become!
tom in ga
