Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

The Holy Martyr Babylas, Bishop of Antioch; The Holy Prophet Moses, who saw God

This is the first Sunday in the new liturgical year

There is no special Ambon Prayer

Title

Whom Do We Respect?

Outline

Many people are respected in society

Some are those with wealth, the self-made man or woman

Some are those with charisma or some type, the superior athlete, the popular musician or actor, the TV personality

Some are those with power or a following that may give them power

But the one thing they are generally not is slaves, especially not slaves of the King

Jesus tells a story about some tenants

A very wealthy householder has planted a vineyard in good soil and with all the proper accoutrements. But, as he is going on a long business trip, he rents his hard work to tenant farmers, the rent being a share of the crop. Notice that they are tenants, not slaves - they do not belong to the household of the householder. And it turns out that they do not care a fig about the interests of the householder.

So, harvest comes and here come some of the householder’s slaves representing the householder and his rightful interests. The tenants do not care a fig about the household, the creator of the vineyard, and they take out their rejection of the householder, their view that they would like him to act as dead, by abusing the slaves, even killing some of them. This scenario happens twice - perhaps the householder could not believe the stories about the first group.

Then householder then sends his son - the heir, the one with full authority, the one who even looked like the householder. Now the tenants attitude becomes explicit: we want the vineyard so let us kill the heir and then it will be our vineyard. Presumably they assume that the householder is either too old or too involved to come himself and avenge the death of his son. Jesus asks the crowd what the householder will do, and they believe he will kill the tenants and find other faithful ones who make the interests of the householder their interests, more semi-independent slaves than tenants.

Thus Jesus shows us why Paul commends those whom he does

The people of God in general over the centuries, even those in the Church, not to mention the world at large act independently of God, seeking their own interests, admiring those who are most independently able. No submission to the Creator and his directives or interests but simply a focus on their own interests, i.e. personal and collective self-love

Paul says, “Let all that you do be done in love.” He means seeking the good of others, good being defined as what God displays in his dealings. Stephanus’ household had “devoted themselves to the service of the saints” - as good slaves of God, seeking his interests, they showed practical love towards God’s people. Others Paul mentions had done the same towards Paul on behalf of the church, making a risky trip to do that. These are the people to admire, to follow, to recognize.

On the other hand, Paul says, “If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come!” This is what happened to the tenants who live showed no love for the householder, but tried to make his creation theirs. He will indeed return.

The true Christian considers himself a slave of Christ, a member of his household, sent in small or large ways to show God’s own love to God’s people in need. Honor such and submit to them. As for the rest of humankind, by their fruits you will know them.

That is what we see in the various saints we honor and in the true bishops, clergy, monks, and noble laymen and women today. May we make such, living and dead, our heroes and examples so that we may come to share with them in the glory of the household of God.

Readings

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 9-3-2023: Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

EPISTLE

1 Corinthians 16:13–24

13  Be watchful, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. 14 Let all that you do be done in love.

15 Now, brethren, you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints; 16 I urge you to be subject to such men and to every fellow worker and laborer. 17 I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence; 18 for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such men.

19  The churches of Asia send greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. 20  All the brethren send greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

21  I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. 22  If any one has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! 23  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. 24 My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 9-3-2023: Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

GOSPEL

Matthew 21:33–42

33 “Hear another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and leased it to tenants, and went into another country. 34  When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; 35 and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. 37 Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 39 And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41  They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”

42  Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

‘The very stone which the builders rejected

has become the cornerstone;

this was the Lord’s doing,

and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Notes

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) (9-4-2022: Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2022 | OCTOECHOS

Byzantine Lectionary (Revised Julian) 9-3-2023: Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Matins Gospel Mark 16:1–8

Epistle 1 Corinthians 16:13–24

Gospel Matthew 21:33–42