Flipping the Fairness Script
Proper 20A | Matthew 20:1-16
OK, Friends! If you thought the last few weeks of Jesus teaching about forgiveness was hard, buckle up! Because even though the school year has only started here in Indiana, we’re approaching the final quarter of the disciple’s semester. We’re talking graduation is just weeks away. Freshman across the street are sweating their intro classes and Jesus is preparing his students for their final exams.
So right now, we’re holding onto the command to forgive. To reconcile with one another and bring wholeness to our relationships and our community. That is foundational to what Jesus is teaching. So we need to keep reviewing our notes, right?
Between last week and this week, the lectionary skips a chapter from 18 to 20. So what did we miss? Three important teachings that get covered elsewhere in the lectionary. Three teachings that require that wholeness, that forgiveness and reconciliation mindset. One is on divorce (which is more about how we aren’t very good at marriage), a second is that heaven belongs to the children, and third is the pious young man seeking the certainty of eternal life.
What we’re getting in the gospel narrative is increasingly difficult situations mixed with the desire for getting it right. With being right. And with a desire for being honored and rewarded for following Jesus. That is the set up for this Sunday.
But before we dig into the gospel, let’s talk about the first reading.
For a limited time, you may find the audio here.
