Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20 and Matthew 21:33-46
Although I mostly want to stick to Exodus this morning, I can’t help but notice the vineyards. On Christ’s beautiful paraments (the fabrics that beautify the space in the green season) and throughout these parables from Matthew, grapevines. We hear about them again and again. If we were reading the beautiful prayer from Isaiah 5, we would hear about them again and in her weekly email from Cherish All Children, Director Joy McElroy, wrote about this “Love Song of Concern,” where Isaiah 5 makes clear, “the beloved vineyard planted for justice and righteousness has instead brought about bloodshed and cries of distress. God speaks the hard truth to [any] who have abused [their] power. We like to point the finger at others when we talk of speaking truth to power, but here God is speaking truth to us.” Joy writes about being at the first Women of the ELCA triennial gathering in 6 years and how teachers Dr. Kelly Sherman-Conroy and Vance Blackfox reminded the participants of how our nation treats immigrants, how our nation treats indigenous people. Tomorrow is Indigenous Peoples’ Day. What might we do tomorrow to learn more, to honor the original people of this land?[1] What might we do tomorrow to learn more, to honor the newest people of this land?
Dr. Sherman-Conroy shared:
“Immigrants are not threats or a burden but our siblings. We need to have open hearts and minds and see the face of God in all. Mitakuye Oyasin – All my relatives.”
These are the kind of loving relationships that God has planted and tends… and God intends to invite all of us, workers in the vineyard, to join in tending these kinds of vines together.
A month ago, Ben and I took a brief day away at a place about an hour-and-a-half away called Good Courage Farm.[2]If you’ve never heard of it, you almost certainly will want to know more. It’s like Shobi’s Table—but in the countryside of Minnesota. How is it like Shobi’s Table? Well, it’s about food sharing, creative ways to live out God’s love, and volunteers. There is a cohort of volunteers—called the Vineyard Stewards—that came throughout this past year to do various things that grapevines need. Here are selections from the communication that lead farmer and pastor, Kerri, sent out to supporters:
More than 40 individuals from six faith communities gave their weekends to becoming workers in the vineyard. These folks were here in deep snow, in blazing heat, in travail, and in joy. They learned to prune, to train, to feed and tend vines, and they were here to receive all that love back again in the form of sweet fruit… All the while, we’ve been praying the Psalms and studying the Gospel texts in which Jesus uses vineyard language and images to reveal something about God and God’s reign.
[Kerri continues…] The grape juice for Communion has been put up in jars, and the wine is bubbling along in the carboys. From the highest point on the farm, at the southeast corner of the pear orchard, it’s clear to see which rows of the vineyard have benefitted from all your attention and care. We’re grateful for your flexibility this pilot season, and for your commitment. We can’t wait to bring you the elements of the Sacrament that you and the greening power of the Holy Spirit coaxed into being.
For all of us who weren’t part of the Vineyard Stewards faith formation cohort this year, and the idea of living the parables of Jesus out under the sky speaks to you, reach out to us at Good Courage Farm. We’ll be forming the 2024 cohort this December and are looking for congregations and individuals interested in this seasons-long way of learning and growing in faith.
I can’t help but think that the scary story we hear from Matthew today—about violence in the vineyard—might sound different if we actually had that experience of tending vines, year after year, and feeling overwhelmed and powerless as they are taken over by wild grapes—so invasive and harmful—and how this describes something about the way of God, the dream of God, as opposed to the things that grow invasively in and around us that threaten to tear God’s dream apart.
So, how do we discern God’s dream, God’s way… how do we know what kind of life God is inviting us to live for our own health and benefit? Well, my spirit turns back to Exodus. Many of us grew up calling them the 10 Commandments and maybe we picture a white-bearded Moses holding up two stone tablets as lightning flashes from the mountain pass. Our children in Godly Play learn these same things as the 10 Best Ways. They are a beautiful invitation to life in loving, life-giving relationship with God and one another. This time around, reflecting on these ways, I read some new insights from Matthew Schlimm, Professor of Old Testament at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary[3].
He writes:
· Don’t settle for anything less God. Don’t worship stuff that doesn’t deserve your worship.
· Using God’s name in vain? It’s not just about being disrespectful. It’s when people use God’s name for selfish or harmful purposes. When politicians say “God bless America” to garner more votes, they use God’s name wrongfully. When parents use religious guilt to make their children do what they want, they use God’s name wrongfully. When Christians make a show of their religion, they use God’s name wrongfully.
And while we’re on the topic of children, Dr. Schlimm, writes;
· “The most important thing I’ve ever read about this commandment comes from an anonymous interpreter: From my…work with the Hebrew of Exodus 20, two facts are clear to me: the first is that honor is not a synonym for obedience and the second is that the Decalogue is not addressed to children.¹
To honor someone is to consider them significant, important, and weighty. It does not necessarily entail obedience. Because this commandment is not addressed to children, it should be seen first and foremost as directing people to care for elderly parents
· And that commandment about Sabbath—that one is pure gift—Unlike Pharaoh, who worked the Israelites to death, God both practices and requires rest. The Hebrew word for “Sabbath” simply means “Stop”. The Sabbath day is an invitation to stop all work. The commandment actually says nothing about worship. It insists that people stop their anxious striving and resist busyness. It’s a deathblow to the assumption that we are only what we accomplish. It’s an invitation to sleep in, take naps, and experience renewal.
Oh wow… the 10 Best Ways… not to manipulate or force… these are invitations to ways of life that are complete gift. Naps, renewal, honoring children (& all of us, of every age), loving God rather than using God, generosity and compassion for others and for ourselves. These are the practices of vineyard stewards—these are the practices that we want to develop. We have been given grace upon grace from a God who planted and nurtured the whole vineyard and wants us to receive—the beautiful fruit, the delicious bread, the healing cup—and so God invites us into a culture of generosity so we can taste and see the ways of God and invite others to join in this generous work.
Joy McElroy shared a prayer at the end of her weekly reflection which inspired this one--
Loving God, open our hearts to seek the truth and work toward reconciliation for any harms we have participated in whether through our actions, denial, or silence. Help us to see what we have been unable or unwilling to see before. Turn us toward healing justice and love for all our siblings. Build among us a culture of generosity where we join with you in practicing your ways, where we welcome you as the keeper of the vineyard and join in your meaningful work. Amen.
[1][1] Monday, October 9 is Indigenous People’s Day. Take time to read the ELCA’s Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery, the Declaration to American Indian and Alaska Native People and engage in the ELCA’s Truth and Healing Movement.
[2] https://www.goodcourage.farm
[3] https://www.workingpreacher.org/commentaries/revised-common-lectionary/ordinary-27/commentary-on-exodus-201-4-7-9-12-20-6
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