The Hard Edge of Grace

Lisa Rzepka, September 18, 2005
Scripture: Exodus 16:1-15; Matthew 20:1-16

	Text: "Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?" (Matthew 20:15)

It's an exciting time around the Rzepka household because in exactly nine days, John and I will embark on our first trip to the Middle East. We're going to the land of Jordan. As many prospective travelers do, we've been preparing ourselves with reading material that would help us to understand the Middle Eastern region and culture. One of the more intriguing traditions I read about recently is the Middle Eastern superstition of the evil eye. You've heard of giving someone 'the evil eye'. Apparently, as you wander through the open air markets you can find huge bins of souvenir stones, bluish, agate like charms meant to ward off the effects of the evil eye. And just as "knocking on wood" or carrying a rabbit's foot are charms to ward off bad luck in our culture, the tradition surrounding the evil eye is just as deeply ingrained.

How superstitions are started is hard to know, but one thing for sure, the concept of the evil eye is ancient. It was known to Jesus. Envy, mentioned in this morning's reading, has been translated from original Greek sources, "Is your eye evil because I am good?" The amulets and trinkets sold in the markets are meant to ward of the power of envy, the jealousy and discontent one feels when another has an advantage or something you desire.

It is the notion of the evil eye that unlocks the meaning of the parable of The Laborers in the Vineyard—or another title might be The Parable of the Generous Landowner.

As Jesus told it, there was a vineyard owner that was short on help. The owner got up at the wee hours of dawn, went down to the day laborers' center and finds some people willing to sign on for a day's work at a day's wages, one denarius - subsistence wages. The laborers were glad for the work; so they gathered up their lunches, pruning snips and sunscreen and headed out to the fields for an honest day's work.

If you've ever seen pictures of the countryside around Jerusalem and in Galilee you can imagine the dust and dirt and rocks - the rock tilling that needed to happen to mark borders and clear land. All that lifting and moving must have been tiring, sweaty work.

While the original laborers toil away, the vintner decides he could use some more help. So about 9:00 AM he hops in his pickup and heads back to the center. Seeing some folks standing around he told them that if they wanted to work he'd pay them rightly. They hopped in the back of the truck and went off to the field.

Around noon, the heat of the day starts to show and the temperature climbs into the nineties. The workers break for some water and fruit and pita bread and they survey their progress. Seeing that there still was a lot of work left, and knowing that many hands make light work, the landowner hops back into the truck and heads back to the center to see if he can scour up more help. He did, and they went to the field. At three in the afternoon, still more workers were hired. And last but not least, a couple of hours before evening, the vineyard owner sees a few stray folks leaning over the fence watching the others work. He said, "Come on in, get to work, and I'll pay you for what you do." So they came in and worked the cleanup shift.

As the sun set the laborers gathered in groups according to the number of hours they worked, the least first and the most last, as per the instructions of the manager. Curious instructions since one might think that the ones for which the day was longest would be dismissed first. But, they were happy to have work and even happier that the day had come to an end. As the landowner started to hand out the checks, those who were hired last and had worked the least amount of time were paid a denarius, a full day's wage.

Well, this sent a ripple of excitement through the crowd. Word was sent down the line that the landowner was more generous than the workers had ever expected, 'cause he was paying the last hired a denarius!! The ones at the end of the line were thrilled—oh, yeah, oh, yeah—they really hit pay dirt that day! They began to elbow one another and joke around with what they would do with the bonuses they were anticipating. They had the math all worked out. Some thought they'd stop off and grab a bottle of wine to go with dinner. Others planned on a new pair of school shoes for the kids. Still others wanted to put a dent in the line-of-credit they just took out on the house. All of them were thinking what a great guy the owner of the vineyard was!! They even started singing "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow."

But then the vineyard owner started moving down the line. The workers who were hired at three o'clock were paid the same, one denarius that the Johnny-come-latelys got who were hired at five o'clock. The singing stopped - word began to spread that something was amiss. Pretty soon it was apparent that everyone was paid the same, one denarius, from the daybreak crowd to the Johnny-come-lately crowd.

The excitement soon morphed into a irate, angry mob. Well, not everyone was angry, those hired late were exhilarated -- relieved and grateful. It was those hired first and early on that felt -well- swindled. It didn't take long before a union steward was elected to do the speaking for them. He was pushed to the front and grumbled about the inequity of the pay. But the landowner reminded him that he was paid according to the contract; they got what they agreed upon. Did they begrudge the landowner doing whatever he wanted with what was his? Or, in Jesus words, "Do you have the evil eye? The vineyard owner asked, "Do you envy the last hired because they have the good fortune to receive my generosity? What a good question! (adapted from Jon M. Walton, Imperfect Peace: Teaching Sermons on Troubling Texts, 1999.)

The text causes us to wonder about the vintner and his labor practices. There is something that offends our basic sense of justice and fair play about this story. We might wonder—did anyone show up for work the next day?

There's a tendency for our eyes to fix on the laborers who have worked the longest. We feel anger and frustration for them that they are not paid the big bonus for bearing the heat of the day. As preacher Jon Walton says:

"The parable grates against the way we like things to work, which is solid, businesslike principles: "You pay for what you get, and what you get you pay for." "An honest day's work for an honest day's wages." "The early bird gets the worm." (Jon M. Walton, Imperfect Peace: Teaching Sermons on Troubling Texts, 1999, pg. 100)

"God helps those who help themselves, right?" Eighty-two percent of Americans believe God helps those who help themselves with 56% believing this is a quote from the Bible. It's not, by the way. (Brian A. Gerrish, "Sovereign Grace: Is Reformed Theology Obsolete?" Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology, Jan. 2003, Vol. 57, No.1, p. 56.)

"We like God to be a fair dealer. We expect ironclad justice. We like sinners held accountable; the fires of hell kept hot for those who are evil. We like the Ten Commandments because they're clear, concise, uncompromising, and you can get them on a wallet-sized card and commit them to memory. We like our God neat and tidy, clear-headed and holding the world accountable. We don't want God going soft with sympathy, forgiving everything as if nothing was abhorrent or evil." (Jon M. Walton, Imperfect Peace: Teaching Sermons on Troubling Texts, 1999, pg. 100)

Actually, what is described in this parable has nothing to do with fairness; it has only to do with grace, and grace seems a lot more gracious if you only have to work an hour to get more than you deserve. In our Protestant tradition we understand Grace as the free, unmerited gift of God's love, it's being in God's favor, that love and favor causes us to celebrate and give thanks - as when we say grace at a meal. (Brian A. Gerrish, "Sovereign Grace: Is Reformed Theology Obsolete?" Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology, Jan. 2003, Vol. 57, No.1, p. 51.) Grace in the Christian tradition is multi-faceted and, unfortunately, grace can offend us when it happens to other people. When we think somebody else gets more than we get, when somebody who has done less gets more, we're offended.

At issue is heaven's justice which is hard to comprehend. What you need to know about this parable is that Jesus tells it right after the Rich Young Man has come to find out what good deed he needs to do to have eternal life. Jesus tells him to give up his possessions, which is a message to stop trusting in his own ability to secure his eternal life and trust in God's grace to give him sustenance. He can't do it, he can't live without possessions. He went away grieving. At the end of the story, Jesus turns to the disciples and says, "The first will be last and the last will be first."

Peter, speaking for the disciples, mentions that they have well understood this message. They have given up everything—"What then will we have?" Jesus promises eternal life. But before disciples get too comfortable—too prideful with insider information—Jesus puts a hard edge on the understanding of grace. In the story of the Rich Young Man and the Parable of the Vineyard Laborers, Jesus places a picture of a God who is righteous and just alongside a picture of a God who is generous and merciful. And repeats, "the first will be last and the last first" which puts a different angle on how we are to understand that phrase and the nature of Grace.

Taken separately, we wouldn't begrudge God's generous grace and we know justice is imperative in the kingdom. The gospel writer Matthew sets the two in tension and it pushes us to realize we prefer justice over mercy. It follows that in preferring justice, that a just and fair labor market would reward each of us for our work according to the value to the community, like sanitation workers, would be paid more than movie stars; teachers paid more than defense lawyers; first response personnel (EMTs, police and firefighters) more than sports stars.

When we feel slighted by the grace we see others receive - those we deem least deserving, we may we ask ourselves, "Why bother?" If it doesn't make any difference who you are in heavenly places, how late you've come to the table, or how much credit you've wracked up: why donate so many hours to the church, to the PTA, to the soup kitchen, to the Cancer Society? Why lead a life on the straight and narrow, come to church every Sunday, pray, or read the Bible? Why deliver those Meals on Wheels, take your neighbor to the doctor, or visit a shut-in? What is the point? Why work so hard on heaven's behalf?

When we ask those questions it's time to remember and focus our eyes on the One who invites. To realize that to be invited into the vineyard is an invitation to be close to God. We don't earn our invitation to the vineyard—but we do get to respond—respond to the grace God lavishes upon us and the promise God shares with us. The blessings of God's peace, the hope of life everlasting, the joys of forgiveness, the fruits of the spirit, are all part of the promise. But don't be mistaken; there is sacrifice and toil in the vineyard and some get there earlier than others. God's nature is to lavish love on us, far more than we deserve and much more than we might have ever expected, and no one will be left out who has labored in the vineyard. We will all receive our wages.

The hard edge of grace is not a new story. Grace gives us pause to think about where envy might seep in and affect our response to God. Jonah pouted when God didn't smite the Ninevites. The elder brother stayed away from the party in his jealousy over the prodigal son. Through these stories we come to know a generous and merciful God—a God that heals our broken places. As you read and listen to the news this week, look for Grace in terms of both God's mercy and justice.

Vineyard keeping God, time after time you come searching for workers.
Your patient seeking and generosity jolt our standards of fairness.
Let your kindness transform us and make our hearts and hands always ready for your work, today and every day.
Amen.

© Copyright, 2005, Rev. Lisa Rzepka
All Rights Reserved.
Providence Presbyterian Church
Fairfax, Virginia