"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. When he went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' So they went. When he went out again about noon and about three o'clock, he did the same. And about five o'clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, 'Why are you standing here idle all day?' They said to him, 'Because no one has hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard.' When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, 'Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.' When those hired about five o'clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage. Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage. And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, saying, 'These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.' But he replied to one of them, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?' So the last will be first, and the first will be last."
One of the pitfalls that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people can fall into is believing that religious right folks might have a point. If we listen too much to their mumbo jumbo we might believe we have nothing to offer God or the world because of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression. This Gospel suggests that there is work for everyone regardless of who they are or when they arrive to work. The work that we are called to do for God is what we are called to because we know God's friendship, not because God is an employer just waiting to kick us off the job, or not pay us a just wage.
Today's reflection from Forward Day by Day offers a very similar approach.
It is certainly not just or fair that those who had worked for twelve hours should receive the same pay as those who had worked only one. Then why did our Lord tell this story?
The key word which unlocks the mystery of the parable is friend. We expect to hear the word laborer or employee. Such a word we could understand.
But then we should have lost the point of the parable. This is no lesson in economics, but a call to friendship. To all who seek to enter into relations with God on the basis of merit and contract, God's chosen ways of grace and friendship will seem unjust. But God will not permit us to have relations with him on the basis of merit. He would lift our relations to a higher level--that of friendship. With friends we do not keep accounts of merit. Friendship recognizes no limits of giving.
Has God dealt with you on the basis of merit or friendship? Do you want God to deal with others as he has dealt with you? (1946)
This explanation offered is a good one. But, for LGBT people we need to make a few more observations. Most LGBT people are told by the religious right that we can be friends of God only if we repent of being LGBT or commit to total physical and/or emotional abstinence for the rest of our lives. Such biased suggestions come from false understandings of homosexuality through Biblical literalism. If we measure our friendship with God as being based on a particular set of standards made by those who interpret Scripture literally and without significant study of the time, culture and meaning of a particular text, then we might come to the same conclusion. But if we understand that the only litmus test of what is truly of God is love as Ret. Bishop Christopher Senyonjo suggests and seek out the common good of other people and see the Bible in it's historical and cultural context we will see that LGBT people and our partners are friends of God just as straight people are. In recent weeks and months we have heard stories of all kinds of supposedly straight people who have caused more harm and grief to straight people and LGBT people, yet no one is suggesting that their friendship with God has been affected. As such it is also not appropriate to imply that God only seeks friendship with LGBT people based on the standards of the religious right.
The friends of God are sought out by the very fact that all of us have been created, redeemed and sanctified by God who is our Creator, Servant and Life-Giver. Therefore all of God's friends are sought out to serve in the capacity by which we have been gifted by God to serve God and our neighbors. The rewards that God offers all of God's friends who answer God's call to service are offered the same rewards of happiness and eternal life, because they answered God's invitation and performed what we have been asked to do. The call of God is the same call to give up our own self interests and desires and seek out the common good of other people. Especially the unprivileged in society and the Church. The work that all Christians are called to perform is feeding those who are hungry, clothing those who are naked, loving those who have no one to love them. As we read in Matthew 25: 31 to 26, when God calls us to work, what God is calling us to do is serve Jesus in all members of God's family. No where in the Gospels of Jesus has he even suggested that those who are gay (or the Eunuchs) are not welcomed to be part of the service of God's kingdom. On the contrary the homosexuals of the Gospel era have been raised up in the service of God's Church as was told in Isaiah 56; 3-5. Therefore LGBT people have every right and reason to take up their place in service of God's people as lay people, Bishops, Priests or Deacons. Thanks be to God.
Do all of us see ourselves as God's friends? Do LGBT people regard ourselves as being in God's friendship and called to participate in God's work? What is it most that we would like to receive from God for the work we do on behalf of God and God's people? How do we see ourselves in relationship with everyone else who works as God's friends?
O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 7, Book of Common Prayer, Page 230).
Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, Page 826).
Heavenly Father, we remember before you those who suffer want and anxiety from lack of work. Guide the people of this land so to use our public and private wealth that all may find suitable and fulfilling employment, and receive just payment for their labor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Unemployed, Book of Common Prayer, Page 824).
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