September 23, 2008

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

Life would be very difficult indeed if we didn't have the opportunity to re-evaluate past decisions and make "course corrections." The "trial and error" method followed by inventors, scientists and medical researchers holds true also in the spiritual journey. "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" is an adage for the spiritual life as well as for the rest of life. In truth, it will take a life-time of starting, failing, and trying again in our quest to love God with all of our heart and mind and strength and to love our neighbor as our selves

THEME FOR THE TWENTIETH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

In an insightful parable in this Sunday's Gospel passage Jesus points to the man who first says no to the invitation to labor in his father's vineyard. Later this man re-evaluates his decision and changes his mind. Like the man in the parable, even if we have turned a deaf ear to God in the past, we are offered another chance, God does not abandon us. God continues to invite us to a relationship of love. In the Collect, we pray: "O God, you declare your almighty power chiefly in showing mercy and pity: Grant us the fullness of your grace, that we, running to obtain your promises, may become partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen."

The reading from Exodus recounts a time when God provides water for the Israelites in the wilderness: "The Lord said to Moses, 'Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.' Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the Lord, saying, 'Is the Lord among us or not?'" (Exodus 17:1-7)

Psalm 78 recalls God care of the Israelites in the desert: "We will recount to generations to come
the praiseworthy deeds and the power of the LORD, and the wonderful works he has done. He worked marvels in the sight of their forefathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. He split open the sea and let them pass through; he made the waters stand up like walls. He led them with a cloud by day, and all the night through with a glow of fire. He split the hard rocks in the wilderness and gave them drink as from the great deep. He brought streams out of the cliff, and the waters gushed out like rivers."

The reading from Philippians contains the beautiful hymn of the first generation of Christians about "God's emptying" of divine status to become human. "Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death -- even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:1-13)

In the reading from Matthew, Jesus presents a parable about two brothers and their response to their father: "What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, 'I go, sir'; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him; and even after you saw it, you did not change your minds and believe him." (Matthew 21:23-32)

Even if we did not respond to God's invitation of love yesterday, we should take heart, because we can respond today. God is inviting us to be nourished by the holy word and the banquet of life. Please join us for worship this Saturday at 5 pm, Sunday at 10:30 am, and Sunday at 6 pm.

Sincerely,

David A. Killian
Rector

EVENTS at All Saints Parish

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