Pentecost 16A

In the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Brothers & sisters in Christ: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

The first class students take - in the seminary I went to - was Summer Greek. I started Summer Greek on my 43rd birthday. I know my Mom will tell you - (boys, cover your ears) I’ve never been a big fan of academic work. It was always a necessary evil. I could do it, but I never enjoyed it. Seminary was different. For the first time in my life, I was going to school because I wanted to. Certainly more importantly, I was going to school because God wanted me to. Not that He didn’t want me to go to the other schools I had attended; this time was different because now I was not only aware that God wanted me to do this…I was IN TUNE with it. I was now aware that God wanted me doing this.

So as I sat in that classroom, a mix of emotions ran through my head and my heart. I was a little disappointed because I wanted to be with my family on my birthday. I was sad because I was still only a few weeks removed from my last day of active duty service in the military, and I was already missing it. I was nervous because I didn’t know what it was going to be like being around non-military people for the first time since high school. I was uneasy because I couldn’t remember what it was like to just be a civilian. I was excited because I was looking forward to pursuing this journey that God had put me on. Yeah, it was quite the mixed bag.

And as I looked around that classroom, it was very clear, very quickly that I had socks older than most of these kids. Now I wasn’t the oldest person in the room. Two women who would quickly become good friends of mine - Diane and Marty - did have me by a few years. But I was the oldest dude, and everyone else was either fresh out of college or had only been finished with undergrad for 3 or 4 years.

I didn’t say much at the time, and I only made reference to my military service prior to entering seminary, so everyone knew I had been wearing the uniform as long as most of them had been alive. It wasn’t until a few days later that I really became aware of the age gap. That day, I came to class wearing a T-shirt from my Academy days—a shirt that had a date on it. One of my classmates looked at it, saw the date and said “you know Todd, I was 2 when you got that shirt.” Yeah, I know Sarah. Thanks for pointing that out.

So, if anyone can appreciate the generosity given to the workers who start late at the vineyard, it’s definitely me. I mean, I know that Jesus is talking about those who come to faith late in life…I get that. But as I read one scholar describe it, “‘His vineyard’ is his visible church on earth where the work of his grace appears.” And as a pastor, doing the work of his visible church on earth, I definitely feel like I came to the vineyard as a worker later in the work day.

This parable of Jesus comes at a place in his teaching where he’s told his closest followers what was about to happen to him, about how he must die and on the 3rd day be raised. In a matter of just a few verses - the very next chapter - Jesus will enter Jerusalem in triumph on the back of a young donkey, in the fashion of the kings of Israel in the Old Testament, while the people will throw palm branches in front of him, recognizing him as the Son of David. That’s how close this passage is to the end of Jesus’ earthly ministry.

So Jesus is teaching about God’s Kingdom. I think we all have in our heads a picture of what we think when we hear those words “God’s Kingdom”. I always thought I did. After that Summer Greek class however, I learned a few things about that phrase.

The word we translate as “kingdom” can also be translated as “reign”. In other words, it’s not a physical place or location. It’s more of a description of those who recognize the authority of that king. Now that same scholar I mentioned before has a pretty good definition of God’s kingdom: “‘the kingdom’ is the rule and operation of God’s grace.’ Yeah, that’ll work for me.

If you’re anything like me, you might think of God’s Kingdom as “heaven”…but I have discovered that this understanding is a bit too simplistic. So what is the Kingdom of God? Which is also called the “Kingdom of Heaven”… What do we really know about it? Martin Luther has this to say about God’s Kingdom: “...as this kingdom of God hath no measure or limits of forgiveness of sins, so also it hath no end, but endureth continually without ceasing; although the subjects of this kingdom do not abide in it continually, firmly and faithfully, but do oftentimes forsake it. So the favour and grace of God were continually with Peter, although he denied the Lord, and revolted from him.” [Martin Luther, “Sermon XI: Of the Kingdom of God,” in Sermons on the Most Interesting Doctrines of the Gospel (London: James Duncan, 1830), 138.]

The Kingdom of God is beyond measure and has no limit to the forgiveness of sins. It has no end. Amen, hallelujah! That’s very good news. It has no limit to the forgiveness of sins. Those who begin their “work” early and those who begin their “work” late both receive the same forgiveness. Those who “oftentimes forsake it” are welcomed back with open arms. Are we - who are already working in the vineyard - ok with that? That’s what Jesus’ parable today warns us about. “Come on, God…we’ve been faithful to you for a long time…these new folks JUST started, and now you’re going to give them the same reward you gave us?” And God says “yep; it’s my reward to give, and I’ll give it out as I see fit.”

I find this parable remarkably similar to the parable of the Prodigal Son. The older brother is much like the early workers in this parable. God has a similar response to the jealous older brother: “all I have is already yours.” So I ask again: are we okay with this? Are we okay with new people coming late to faith in Jesus Christ? Are we okay with people leaving the faith and coming back later?

From what I’ve seen, I think most of us are very okay with all of that. I don’t know any Christians who won’t welcome a newcomer to the Body of Christ. I don’t know any Christians who won’t welcome someone back to the Body of Christ after drifting away. In the churches I’ve been in, there are really only 2 problems with newcomers: first - “who’s that new guy? Has he ever been here before? What do I say to him?” And second - “who is that family and why are they sitting in our pew?” But as far as coming new to faith in Christ Jesus - welcome! Just please find a different seat.

I want to share with you a bit more from the good Dr. Luther on God’s Kingdom: “...the kingdom of heaven, the kingdom of God, the kingdom of Christ, and it is very profitable and expedient for a Christian to know these, [namely], that they are nothing else, but remission of sins, and grace preached and offered by the gospel; for in this kingdom thou shalt find nothing but grace, goodness, pardon, and forgiveness of sins, love and gentleness...” [Martin Luther, “Sermon XI: Of the Kingdom of God,” in Sermons on the Most Interesting Doctrines of the Gospel (London: James Duncan, 1830), 134.]

That’s what the Kingdom of Heaven, the Kingdom of God is. And it is *for* everyone, whenever they might come to Christ.

What else does Jesus’ parable here tell us about the Father, the Son, and the Kingdom? We know that the “master of a house” is God, more specifically the Heavenly Father. Jesus, then, is the “foreman” from verse 8, who pays everyone their “wages”. This parable tells us that “grace, goodness, pardon, and forgiveness of sins, love and gentleness...”, those are the “wages” given to the workers (that is, Christians) by the foreman (that is, Christ). Not because they have worked long enough (or their wages would have been determined according to their hours), but simply because they were willing to participate (that is, have faith in Christ), and because of the Father’s generosity…because of His love for them.

Jesus is teaching us that the Master will offer a job to anyone. There are no qualifications or requirements. There is no test. He will offer you a job, and He wants everyone to be able to work, and to receive the day’s pay. This is exactly who the Father is. He wants this for everyone. He wants everyone to receive a reward. And He also cares for his kingdom - He wants it to be cared for. The parable doesn’t tell us what the “work” represents. But it’s clear that the “Master” and the “foreman” are not doing the work. The work is done by the people. More from that scholar: “So the whole work of the church is turned over to Christ ..., and the actual tending of the vineyard or church is done by means of men, the Christians, who are called and appointed to this work.” [R. C. H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. Matthew’s Gospel (Minneapolis, MN: Augsburg Publishing House, 1961), 765.]

Trivia question: what’s the Greek word for “work of the people”? Leitourgia is the Greek word, which is where we get the word “liturgy” from. The work is done by the people.

Right now, I can’t help but think about how much connection I have with you all here at Faith. I think many, if not most of you, remember when I started my journey, and later I would get to see many of you when I would come back to Wilmington and preach or assist with worship. And I really wanted to be ordained in Wilmington and share that milestone with you, but God had other plans. But I was ordained nonetheless (2 years ago this coming Tuesday), and it was a very good day…even if I was getting a late start with this Kingdom work.

Fast forward to July of 2019, and I had a sit-down with a couple of you, and we talked about what your future might look like as a new and different gathering of the people of God. I know my mom said (at least once) “I’m too old to start a new church.” And I’ll bet she wasn’t the only one who thought that. But here we are. A year later, and you’re doing it!

I wish I could have been in the room when you decided to name yourselves “Faith”. What an absolutely appropriate name for your congregation. It takes a leap of faith to do what you are doing. But once you took that leap, it wasn’t as bad as you feared, was it? You’re doing it! By the way - what’s the opposite of fear? The opposite of fear is FAITH. Of course it will be nice when you have a place to call your own, where you don’t have to tear down every week. But let me ask you: does the Master of the vineyard mind? Does He care where you meet? Of course not.

He doesn’t mind because His Kingdom is not a place. His Kingdom is not defined by geography or cities or borders. His Kingdom is in our hearts. THAT is “where the work of His grace appears.” And all of us are welcome to work there, no matter how late in the day He calls us. And make no mistake: He is calling all of us. Now as we are working His vineyard, let us help those who haven’t started working yet to hear His call and welcome them to the joys of Kingdom work, and the joy of working for The King.

In the name of the Father, and of the +Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.