Word and Deed

17th Sunday after Pentecost

Today's Readings: Phil. 2:1-13; Matthew 21:23-32

Grace and peace to you in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Last week we heard in the gospel parable that the last would be first and the first would be last (Matt. 20:1-16). Jesus told of hired hands working in a vineyard, some all day, and some for only one hour, but all receiving the same daily wage. The landowner who hired these workers not only decided to pay them all equally, but as they lined up to collect their wages, he made sure those who worked the entire day were paid last. In this way they were forced to see the landowner pay those who worked but one hour the SAME wages. The landowner could have waited until the daylong laborers had been paid and gone on their way home before paying those who worked fewer hours, therefore avoiding confrontation and argument, but he didn’t. He made a conscious choice for the daylong laborers to SEE how the last were first and the first last.

In today’s gospel parable, we get this same message, but with different character examples. The chief priests and elders of the Jewish faith in Jerusalem assume their authority over others, assume a privileged place in God’s kingdom, especially over the sinners Jesus liked to hang out with. However, Jesus tells them that even though they may be ‘first’ here and now, the day will come when they will be last, waiting in line behind the very tax collectors and prostitutes they condemn. [To be clear, Jesus does not condemn the religious leaders, saying they will never enter the kingdom of God, but he does say they will be last, watching the grace of God in action as those they deemed sinners enter the kingdom before them.]

In this morning’s parable Jesus describes a father who tells his two sons to go work in the vineyard. One son says ‘sure dad,’ but never goes, while the other says ‘no way!’ but later does the work his father asked. Jesus is saying words are not enough. Jesus is bringing to life the common phrase – actions speak louder than words. We cannot talk the talk and refuse to walk the walk. If someone proclaims love, grace, and mercy but is quick to hate, judge, and condemn, one might call that person a hypocrite (as Jesus often does – Matt. 6:1-16; 7:5; 15:7; 22:18; 23:13-30; 24:51; Mark 7:6; Luke 6:42; 12:56; 13:15)

So how do we learn to walk and talk at the same time? As human beings, born simultaneously sinners and saints, this does not come naturally to us and therefore is something we must consciously work toward every day. Martin Luther once said, “Christian living does not mean to BE good, but to BECOME good; not to BE well, but to GET well; not BEING but BECOMING.” Our ‘becoming’ is an ongoing, transformational journey that encompasses the whole of our lives. But, as we know, we never journey alone. Emmanuel – God is with us – and God has shown us the way in the life of Christ Jesus, our Lord. Not only does God come down to earth to take on our flesh and BE a living, breathing example, but God is also AT WORK IN you – ENABLING you to be of the same will as God and working toward that which pleases God (Phil. 2:13).

The Christ hymn that we heard this morning in Paul’s letter to the Philippians reiterates WHO GOD IS and how God has been revealed in Christ SO THAT we might pick up our cross and follow him. Christ is God in human flesh, meaning God could have come to earth ‘guns blazing’ so to speak, exploiting humanity and asserting power and authority, yet God chose humility and service, vulnerability and tender love. Christ’s love was so vast, his passion for people so radical, that his death was inevitable.

Christ’s love and passion for ALL people made those who felt they deserved special treatment, deserved the first spot in line, so angry that they had him killed. They talked the talked, but could not walk the walk. They could say the words of scripture, but could not internalize them.. could not allow the words to seep into their hearts and transform them into who God created them to be. (Remember there is still a place for them in God’s kingdom, it may not be the place they anticipated, but redemption is still a reality).

So what does it mean to walk the walk? To follow and emulate Christ? It looks likes – as we see from God incarnate – humility, vulnerability, and obedience unto death. It looks like a passion for people that surpasses passion for self-interest. You see we call the story of Christ’s death ‘the passion’ during Holy Week before Easter, equating Christ’s passion to the cross itself. The reality is, however, that the cross is simply the inevitable outcome of the passion of Christ. Christ’s passion, the passion of Immanuel, of love, is a passion for justice and joy, an absolute sensitivity to the vulnerability, need, and suffering of others (Prof. William Greenway). This passion was so counter-cultural, so intimidating to the powers that be, that of course he was put to death. Easter is the realization that Christ’s passion is STILL victorious. Nothing - not sinful people, not even death - can squander the passion of Immanuel.

To live like Christ did is dangerous, hard, uncomfortable… to have that kind of humility, vulnerability, obedience, love and passion is counter-cultural and attracts outrage and unfortunately sometimes even violence. Perhaps that is why Paul tells the Philippians to work out their salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12). We may be afraid - our voices may shake and our feet may stumble - but God remains at work in each one of us despite our fear and resistance.. and we can most certainly rest assured knowing that LOVE wins; that goodness IS stronger than evil; that victory IS ours through God who loves us (Desmond Tutu). May we live each day in this truth – proclaiming it to all with both word AND deed. Amen.