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BY MANDY SAYERS

The parable of the wicked tenants in Matthew 21:33-43 seems to be about Jesus' interaction with pharisees and scribes, those leaders who failed to listen to God's son. There's a tendency to read this as an US/THEM sort of parable where the wicked tenants are, of course, THEM.

Then there's the the early church, the new tenants, the ones who'll get the vineyard. That's Matthew's community and by extension, US. I'll take the vineyard, since I have a WWJD bracelet and all, and if we could have just a small awards ceremony, maybe a small write up here in the UMConnection, that'd be good too.

Then after the party ends, we might realize that we don't own the vineyard. We got an invitation, open to everyone, to work in God's vineyard. We might look around and see how much work God's already put in, how God rolled up God's sleeves and dug a press, planted the vines and made them grow, and left those detailed instructions. (See the "10 Commandments for Vineyard Care.") We might see how God has given us everything we need to do God's will; all God seems to want are eager hearts and willing hands.

When harvest time rolls around, it'll be hard to remember we don't own the vineyard. We'll have gone to work every day. We'll have had our squabbles and earned our blisters. We'll have a "tenant farmer of the week" whose picture will be in a frame over the cash register.

Eventually it will occur to us that we'd be better owners than that absentee landlord of ours. We don't even remember what he looks like anymore, but we'll have a sense he always wanted to do things the hard way. We'll start thinking that those folks who came at the last minute don't deserve as much as those of us who've been with the company for years. Pretty soon, here comes the owner's son, saying "Take up your cross and follow me" and "Forgive 70 times seven," and we're going to find ourselves clenching our teeth and wishing he'd just go away and leave us alone.

Thing is, God won't leave us alone. God is the picture of patience, perseverance and grace-filled loving persistence. God keeps sending, speaking, calling and loving, even when we don't think we want to hear it. The Bible is always calling us to faithfulness, to take the narrow path, to do the hard work of love and forgiveness. The owner of the vineyard chose us, not because we're good farmers but because God loves us and the vineyard more than we can ever fathom.

God still sends messengers to bring God's word, and God sent Jesus, to do more than speak for God, but to be "God-With-Us." When our vineyard owner's son was killed, God didn't respond with violence. God seemed to take one look at those lost, misguided, weary, violent workers and God raised the son ("The Lord of the Harvest"), so that the inheritance we thought we'd take by force would be given to all who believe as a free gift of God.

If we forget who we're working for, ministry becomes monotonous and discipleship becomes drudgery. Life becomes about what we lack and pretty soon, we're all protecting what we have. But if we remember who we're working for, that water-to-wine maker, that one who gives his life for workers and vineyard, then we can whistle while we plow, knowing that this little vineyard is only a part of the vast gracious vineyard of God's love. It's a joy to be in this vineyard with you.

Rev. Amanda "Mandy" Sayers is a provisional Elder who serves Covenant UMC in Montgomery Village.