17TH  SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Lessons & Meditation

17TH  SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST   09-27-2020

FIRST READING:  Ezekiel 18:1-4, 25-32

On September 6, the 14TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST, we were in Ezekiel, Chapter 33, which begins the transition in the prophet’s message to one of comfort and hope. But this Sunday we are in that earlier period of his preaching, when the prophet faithfully announced God’s harsh, hope-crushing word of divine judgment to a covenant people who had broken their promises and grieved God’s heart. The first period of the prophet’s message was full of anger and threats from God.

But the people didn’t always want to own up to their failure before God. Here in Ezekiel, Chapter 18 they jump right into an activity that goes all the way back to the garden in Eden, to Adam and Eve: they play the blame game. “It’s not our fault,” the people respond. “The problems we face now are because of our parents’ misdeeds.”  They think that what seems like their own unfaithfulness and sin is really an unchangeable result of what their parents were and did. They quote a proverb to Ezekiel: “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children’s teeth are set on edge.”

How clever, dramatic, and eager are you when it comes to blaming others rather than accepting personal responsibility? Have you ever tried to “play” this on God? Can you understand how this is self-pity, fatalism, and despair all wrapped around untruth about you and also untruth about God’s nature and God’s justice?

You can grab your Bible and read all of Chapter 18, including the portion skipped in our lectionary. The prophet Ezekiel speaks of individual accountability rather than inherited guilt. Individuals are responsible for their own sin and their own repentance.

We must stop trying to blame others for our own unfaithfulness. We must stop thinking that we are unable to break some chain of inherited guilt, or to jump off of a track whose only destination is sin. And we must surely stop claiming that God is being unfair in judging us! Repent – that is, turn away from your sin. Stop the sinning. And trust Ezekiel’s message that God is loving and forgiving, eager for people to turn in God’s direction and live.

SECOND READING:  Philippians 2:1-13

Paul is writing to this beloved Christian community, one that he founded, from a prison cell in some location, uncertain whether he might be freed or executed. Here he quotes from a very early Christian hymn, already in circulation, that celebrated the humble and obedient self-sacrifice displayed in Christ Jesus. It is part of Paul’s call to the Philippian Christians to seek harmony. There must have been strong opposition from hostile outsiders that is contributing to some sort of tension. Although Christians may disagree on many things, Paul urges them to be of one mind with regard to valuing and showing forth Christ’s self-giving love. It is the best way to avoid thinking and acting only for selfish purposes. It is the best way to fight disagreement and division.

Try to keep your mind “stayed on Jesus”… he kept his mind stayed on you. Our highest aim is not to win, succeed, or be right. We are called to love others as Christ has loved us, putting the interests of others above our own.

Jesus is confident in his identity, his purpose, and his mission. Can we say this about ourselves?

GOSPEL READING:  Matthew 21:23-32

Shortly after arriving in Jerusalem – expecting to suffer and accepting death – Jesus drives the moneychangers out of the Temple, heals the sick, and begins teaching there. These activities are challenged by the religious leaders who are in charge of the Temple, the chief priests and elders. They question the authority of Jesus, trying to trap him with their words and their questions.

But Jesus can play that word game too! He questions them about the authority of John’s baptizing – “From heaven or of human origin?” – and they are afraid to answer. Then he tells them a parable about a vineyard in need of work, a request by the father to two children, two answers. One big question yet remains: “Who has done God’s will?” Is it the child who promises to do right and actually does nothing? Is it the child who swears to do nothing and then later completes the task? Isn’t the answer all too obvious? When all is said and done, more is often said than done. Our actions do not always match our good intentions and eager pronouncements.

The audience of Jesus, those chief priests and elders, agree that the most obedient child in that little story was the one who later changed his mind and worked. Jesus responds to their response with the statement that “tax collectors and prostitutes” – no doubt, others commonly viewed as sinners and outcasts – “are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.” Many people listened and responded to John the Baptist with repentance… but not the proud and pious religious elite. Many are listening and responding to Jesus… but not the proud and pious religious elite. The tax collectors and prostitutes recognized God’s righteousness in John the Baptist and Jesus, while the proud and pious religious elite did not.

In the parable, which son’s story is most like your own? Why? In reality, each son hears, each son answers, but neither does what he says. In truth, both are defiant. But one has a change of heart and mind and does his father’s will, while the other is “just talk” with no effort. Have you said “yes” to the Lord’s call of discipleship but ended up saying “no” with the rest of you? “But be DOERS of the Word, and not merely HEARERS who deceive themselves.”  (James 1:22)

A MEDITATION

If God isn’t part of your life’s plan, then you really don’t have a plan. And if you say “yes” with your mouth to the call of Jesus Christ to be a disciple but end up saying “no” with the rest of you, then you still don’t have a plan. Get a life. Love Christ. Love and serve others just like Christ did and does. The faith of an individual Christian grows best when nurtured in a community of believers. Have you been baptized? Are you connected to a church family? Please speak to our Pastors if the Holy Spirit is leading you to this place and people.