Anglican Alternative Service Book, Year Two, Pentecost 11
Gospel : Matthew 20:1-16
The Labourers in the Vineyard. The context of this is Peter's question "What
shall we get?" (19:27).
See-saw "Marjorie Daw" [/ad *majorem Dei* gloriam/]
Johnny shall have a new master;
He shall have but a penny a day,
Because he can't work any faster..
When Christ is our Master, when you're up you're down and vice versa (16)..
First last, last first..
1. RECRUITED FOR ROYAL SERVICE
a. Some were hired in the Morning..
The Jews were the first as the Chosen Race. Abraham was recruited in the
morning of God's Day of Revelation. Israel was to be the missionary nation to
gather fruit for God from every nation. Some of us were recruited as children
or young people, at the beginning of our life's day..
b. More were hired in the Afternoon..
Peter and the Eleven came in next; then the early Christians; then the
Reformation Christians; these bore the heat and the burden of their day. Some
of us were converted in adult years, in the noontide of our life's day. We are
spending and being spent in His glad service..
c. More were hired in the Evening..
This is twentieth century Christianity. Most of the pioneer work is done; but
there is still much fruit to gather; the fields are white unto harvest. Still
more labourers are needed! Some of us God would recruit in our life's
eventide, when we have retired from our secular employment. God has a task for
all of us yet..
2. REWARDED FOR LOYAL SERVICE
Does Job serve God for naught? (Job 1:9)
a. The Graciousness of God..
To the amazement of all, the late-comers are given parity with the original
workers! They expected to be paid pro-rata, but instead they got the reward
in full. It was undeserved; it was all of grace: amazing grace. The last is
first and the first last. Adam and Eve were saved by grace (Gen 3:21); Noah
was saved by grace (Gen 6:8); Abraham was saved by grace (Gen 15:6). So by
grace alone are we (Eph 2:8-9)..
b. The Faithfulness of God..
He kept His Word to the firstcomers. He has kept all His promises to Abraham,
Moses and the Prophets. If we are given parity with them, it is because Christ
has done all and won all for us all. "The wages of sin is death" (if we want
what we deserve) "but the free gift of God is eternal life" (Rom 6:23)..
Ben
--
Revd Ben Crick, BA CF
232 Canterbury Road, Birchington, Kent, CT7 9TD (UK)
