You may wish to light a candle before you begin.
May the grace, mercy and love of God be with us all. Amen.
Collect
Lord God, defend your Church from all false teaching, and give to your people knowledge of your truth, that we may enjoy eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Confession
let us confess our sins in penitence and faith, firmly resolved to keep God’s commandments, and to live in love and peace with all.
When we are led astray from your teachings, Lord, have mercy:
Lord, have mercy.
When we close our ears and minds to your call, Christ, have mercy:
Christ, have mercy.
When we fail to be generous with your gifts to us, Lord, have mercy:
Lord, have mercy.
May the Lord have mercy on us and bless us; may we be freed from our sin and brought into eternal life and peace, through Jesus our Saviour. Amen.
God’s Word - Philippians, chapter 1, verses 21 to the end :-
(Paul is writing these words from prison in Ephesus, with his life in danger)
To me life is Christ, and death is gain. If I am to go on living in the body there is fruitful work for me to do. Which then am I to choose? I cannot tell. I am pulled two ways: my own desire is to depart and be with Christ - that is better by far; but for your sake the greater need is for me to remain in the body. This convinces me: I am sure I shall remain, and stand by you all to ensure your progress and joy in the faith, so that on my account you may have even more cause for pride in Christ Jesus - through seeing me restored to you.
Whatever happens, let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether or not I come and see you for myself I may hear that you are standing firm, united in spirit and in mind, side by side in the struggle to advance the gospel faith, meeting your opponents without so much as a tremor. This is a sure sign to them that destruction is in store for them and salvation for you, a sign from God himself; for you have been granted the privilege not only of believing in Christ but also of suffering for him. Your conflict is the same as mine; once you saw me in it, and now you hear I am in it still.
Matthew, chapter 20, verses 1 to 16 :-
(A parable of Jesus)
‘The kingdom of Heaven is like this. There was once a landowner who went out early one morning to hire labourers for his vineyard; and after agreeing to pay them the usual day’s wage he sent them off to work. Three hours later he went out again and saw some more men standing idle in the market-place. “Go and join the others in the vineyard,” he said, “and I will pay you a fair wage”; so off they went. At midday he went out again, and at three in the afternoon, and made the same arrangement as before.
‘An hour before sunset he went out and found another group standing there; so he said to them, “Why are you standing here all day doing nothing?” “Because no one has hired us,” they replied; so he told them, “Go and join the others in the vineyard.”
‘When evening fell, the owner of the vineyard said to the overseer, “Call the labourers and give them their pay, beginning with those who came last and ending with the first.” Those who had started work an hour before sunset came forward, and were paid the full day’s wage. When it was the turn of the men who had come first, they expected something extra, but were paid the same as the others. As they took it, they grumbled at their employer: “These latecomers did only one hour’s work, yet you have treated them on a level with us, who have sweated the whole day long in the blazing sun!”
‘The owner turned to one of them and said, “My friend, I am not being unfair to you. You agreed on the usual wage for the day, did you not? Take your pay and go home. I choose to give the last man the same as you. Surely I am free to do what I like with my own money? Why be jealous because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first last.’
Thanks be to God, for this his holy word. Amen.
Reflection on the Readings
Jesus was obviously a careful student of human nature, and that comes across in the stories he tells. Take today’s story, for example, whose setting is the traditional hiring fair, where would be workers are gathered in the market place waiting for someone to take them on and give them a day’s work.
I know how it feels to be the last chosen. Miles and I were the two most useless footballers in our year group at school. So we were always stood there waiting, while the day’s team captains picked everyone else before they got to us.
It was like that for some of the folk in the market place that day. Maybe they looked weedier than the others. Maybe they just hadn’t caught anyone’s eye. But they all had the same needs; without money what would you eat? What would you put on the table for your wife and bairns? As the day wore on the sense of desperation would increase. I can hear the helplessness and the hopelessness too in the voices of the men who reply “Because no-one has hired us!” to the landowner when he asks why they are still standing there.
Anyway, in the end they’re all hired, albeit at different times through the day, so some have done a whole day’s slog, and some not very much. And it’s those ones, the last to go out there, who get paid first. I can imagine the delight on the faces of the guys who’ve been out there all day, when they see these latecomers being paid so much. Wonder how much we’ll get, they think. Just the same.
How crushingly disappointing. And yet what they had was fair. But it’s human nature to want more than the person you think was worked less well, or in this case has worked for fewer hours. That’s how we think, but it isn’t how God thinks. And the landowner in the story, like God, has paid out according to need, not according to the amount of work done. All of them started the day with the same need - let’s say the need to put food on the table for the wife and kids. It’s a hard lesson, but an important one to learn, for the Christian disciple.
For this is what it means to live by faith, rather than by works. It isn’t how much we do, or how well we do it, or how long we’ve been doing it for, that counts. The late comer to the Christian fold is just as much a chosen and beloved lamb in God’s flock as the one who’s been there all along.
Ours is a missionary faith. God sends us to share our faith with others. And those who respond, and come in, and join us, whatever and wherever they come from, do not come as junior or less important sorts of church members but as church members on a par with ourselves - just as much chosen and called, just as much loved. And just as graciously provided for by our heavenly Father.
Statement of faith
We believe in God the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named. We believe in God the Son, who lives in our hearts through faith, and fills us with his love. We believe in God the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us with power from on high. We believe in one God; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
Prayers
Pray for the world, and especially today for all homeless people and refugees, often in very poor and dangerous situations, and very at risk from the Covid virus among other dangers. Pray for all in places of political power, that they may recognise the responsibilities they have, and work for peace, understanding, welfare and justice. Pray also for the world’s response to the present pandemic, and that we may help and support each other.
Pray for the Church as it challenges the way in which the world sees things and does things; for a church that speaks for the voiceless and gives hope and succor to those in need. Pray for Christians in South Sudan, and for the Anglican Province of South Sudan. In our own Diocese, pray for Bishop Richard, and for all churches holding gift days today or planning them in the coming weeks. Pray also for those due to be ordained at this time as deacons and priests.
Pray for all who are ill, troubled or hurt today, and for all that is done to bring help and healing to those in need. Pray that all who care for others may do so safely, with support and protection. Pray all who suffer from sight loss and those who care for them, and for all infected with the Covid virus.
Pray for families and friends, and for our deanery at a time of change and transition. Pray especially for our work with children and families. Pray we may continue to act with responsibility and care, looking out for each other, and keeping safe ourselves.
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Blessing
May Christ the Good Shepherd lead us and guide us, and may we be enabled to share his love with all those around us; and may the blessing of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, be with us always. Amen.
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