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September
18th, 2005, Pentecost 18,
All Souls' Episcopal
Church
“For me to live is Christ, and to die is
gain.”
Philippians 1:21
Today’s Gospel lesson features a
familiar parable told by our Lord Jesus. Because the parables of Jesus were set
in real life, it is important to understand the historical context in which the
story takes place. Clearly, this parable was told before the existence of labor
unions. There’s just something about an employer asking, “Is it not lawful for
me to do what I will with my own?” which rubs some people the wrong way.
However, any labor dispute arising in this parable would be an unusual one.
Basically, the disgruntled employees are being paid the agreed upon wage but
are upset because they believe that their fellow workers have been treated too
well. It is not a difficult parable to interpret, but it is a difficult parable
to apply to our lives.
The parable can easily be
interpreted on a number of levels. It can be a reminder to the Jewish
Christians who faithfully followed the law for years to welcome their Gentile
brothers and sisters and to not regard them as interlopers and undeserving
“Johnny-come-lately” types. The parable can also be interpreted in a similar
way to remind all Christians, Jew and Gentile alike, not to think less of those
who come to faith in Christ and become members of the Body of Christ late in the
day, when the persecutions are over and much of the sacrifice of early
missionary work has been done.
This parable may be interpreted on
many levels, but its true meaning has to do with the unfathomable depths of
God’s grace. The parable is about the Kingdom of Heaven. The laborers in the
story do not earn a spot on the work force. They didn’t make the team.
Instead, they were called and they were chosen. Their work – their employment
- was a thing given to them. The employees who were hired later were given far
more than they would have thought possible. The parable is about the Kingdom of
Heaven. It is about being called and chosen by God to receive far, far more
than either we can desire or deserve.
St. Paul knew the meaning
of this parable. He knew that he himself came to work in the Lord’s vineyard
quite late compared to St. Peter and James and John and the other Apostles and
disciples. In fact, Paul persecuted the early church. He was their sworn
enemy. And yet, when he was called to faith in Christ and became a part of the
body, he received the same citizenship in God’s Kingdom and the same saving
grace and the same redeeming love as all the rest. Paul knew that he had
received far, far more than either he could desire or deserve. Listen to him
talk about these very blessings in today’s Epistle reading. He writes:
For me, to live is Christ and
to die is gain. If I go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor
for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know. I am torn between the two. I
desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
St. Paul had great faith, but not
unusual faith. He had the faith of a Christian. He had the faith of the
church. He knew by faith that to depart from this world meant to be with
Christ. He was certain that nothing – not life or death or angels or
principalities or powers, nor things present, nor things to come – could ever
separate him from Christ Jesus his Lord. This faith in the sure and certain
promises of God made St. Paul long to depart from this world. His desire was to
be with Christ. And yet, although Paul longed to depart from this world he did
not seek to run away from this world. He wished to depart from the world, not
flee from it. In fact, the more he longed to be in Heaven with the Savior and
Lord he loved, the more eager he was to do good in this world. Paul’s desire to
be in Heaven with Christ did not make him disengage from this world. Instead,
the love of God and the grace of God which drew St. Paul to Heaven was the very
love which inspired him to be a mighty worker in the vineyard and to bear much
fruit in touching the lives of others with that love.
St. Paul’s desire to
leave this world was understandable given the hardships he had to endure. He
was imprisoned, flogged with whips, and pelted with jagged rocks until left for
dead. He lived under constant threat. He knew very well how harsh this world
can be and how fragile all of us are. We know this too, as a State, as a
nation, and as individuals. The most recent tragic events on our Gulf Coast
have delivered hardship and devastation to an entire region of our country. And
yet, through it all, we see the response of government, charities, churches, and
ordinary people giving of their time, resources, and talent to help heal and
rebuild. When tragedy or hardship touches our lives, the pain we feel, as hard
as it is to bear, is also an indication that our soul is intact. When life is
painful, it is so tempting to withdraw into a hard shell. It is so tempting to
retreat into a numbness in which we feel nothing. And yet, compassion means
literally to suffer with. We know that with love there is always suffering and
yet we will continue to love and continue to live on in whatever altered set of
circumstance life throws our way because we believe that love is the very reason
in things and of things. Love is not merely in the world. Love is why the
world exists. The love which calls us into suffering is the very love which
unites us forever with God, and in God, with one another. It is a love stronger
than death. It is the very love which moves the sun and all the other stars.
It is the love which causes us to proclaim, “For me to live is Christ, and to
die is gain.”
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