Thursday - Go and Work

Prayer:  Great God,  give us the strength and enthusiasm to do Your work this day!  Amen.

Read  St Matthew 20: 1 – 16

This is the parable of the workers in the vineyard.   Jesus teaches the disciples that the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner looking for workers to hire to work in his vineyard.  Three times the landowner went to the village centre looking for workers to hire in his vineyard.  At the end of the day,  all the workers were paid the same amount… even though some workers had worked all day and others worked a mere three hours.   In the Kingdom of Heaven,  God welcomes those who have laboured long in the Church and those who have only laboured a few short hours.   This is our God of love. 

Go and work in my vineyard  is the  “go” phrase.    Each of the workers were hired to work in the landowner’s vineyard.  The workers were given a very specific task.   Translate that to the Kingdom of Heaven and the vineyard becomes the Church – and the community.  So  who is to work in the Church – community?  And what are they to do for work? 

We are all to work in the vineyard – in the Church and the community. While there are a few in our midst who are called to be Ministers of Word and Sacrament,  we are all called by God to work in the Church and community.   Our work is to spread the love of God within our community and world.  Our work is to spread the Word of God within our community and world.   In the Book of Acts,  the new Church fed those who were hungry,  helped heal the infirmed and sick,  took care of the widow and children,  to bring justice and peace  as just a beginning of the work of the new Church.   So too must our Church today must continue reaching out into the community and world helping those who need help.

While some Sessions are saying that the workers are few (that would be us),  we can not give up on working to bring the love of God into our Church and community.   Remember that everyone in the Church can be a worker… from the very young to the very old.  For those of us who are growing older,  we can offer our prayer as our work.    

Today look at what your Church does for the community right outside the Church front steps.    Is the Church you attend working in your community?   Ask the Session what they are doing to bring the love of God into the community through helping those who need help.  Frequently  our Sessions have work to do but forget to communicate that there is work to be completed!   Ask the Session to provide a list of work/programs/events that need to be upheld in prayer is a great start! Go and work!

Prayer:   Great God,  we thank You for the work that You  have given to us.  We go forth this day with Your enthusiasm to share Your love with everyone we meet.   Remind us that we are not working in sharing Your love alone….that we have companions on the journey if we but ask.  This we ask in Jesus’ name.  Amen.