In today’s Gospel Reading we are presented with not just one – but two – parables making the reading rather comprehensive. Both are about vineyards, both are told in the same context, both are teaching us how gentiles are invited into the new covenant with God, yet they differ in many ways.
Because of that, I might favour talking of just one of them instead of both. Well, I have decided to do that. I will only talk about the first parable, and I hope you are okay with that.
Now the context of today’s Gospel Reading is Easter. Jesus have just entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, and one of the first things he does is to walk up to the temple and start disputing with the elders and the priests.
The two parables of today are told to these elders and priests, and what Jesus tries to visualize for them through the parables is that they might not be right.
But not only that: Jesus also tells them that he has the intention of inviting gentiles into the new covenant that he is here to make, because to him – and to God – the gentiles sometimes seem to more easily comprehend what God’s intention with his creation is.
With the parables, Jesus is not trying to say how Jews in general does not comprehend what God’s intention with his creation is – Jesus is not a racist – but he might be criticizing the institution on which the ones he is speaking with – the elders and the priests – are on the top.
How are they then wrong, one might ask. And that question I would like to try to answer through an analysis of the first parable.
At first it seems like there are two different ways to approach faith. There is the way that is like the first son: One rejects it, but still feels drawn towards it. And then there is the way that is like the second son: One says one believe, but in fact one could not care less.
At first it seems that these are the two only ways to approach faith, but does not two more exist if we give it a little thought? One where one says yes to faith and follow up the calling with acts. And then also one where one clearly rejects faith and could not care less about it.
I believe the latter two exists. And not only in reality, but in the reading as well. Because I believe the reason Jesus is telling this parable to the elders and the priests is to make them realize how some of them might look most like… not the first, nor the second… not the third either, but the fourth kind of way. The ones that says no, and could not care less.
The elders and the priests. They might have said ‘yes’ to the Tora, but to John the Baptist they said ‘no’. And throughout the Gospel this sadly have not changed. Despite of signs. Despite of teachings. Despite of other people showing interest in Jesus. They kept saying ‘no’ to Jesus and the new covenant.
Today, the context of the actual dispute between Jesus and whom-ever he spoke with is not all that interesting – at least I will say so.
Whether he spoke with Jews or gentiles, little does it matter, because the Gospel ended out being available for everyone, and hence, we should not argue among us, but simply consider which way we are on.
1) Are we rejecting yet appealed. 2) Are we confessing yet could not care less. 3) Are we confessing and bearing the fruits of faith. 4) Or are we rejecting and ignorant.
To consider this is what we want, because I truly hope that you will agree with me when I say, that the third way is to be preferred. Not that I will argue that it is the only path towards God.
I truly believe that the first and second way – especially the first – could be stepstones towards God – hence they are somewhat good. Yet the third way must be preferred.
When I wrote my sermon I thought if there was a funny way, I could explain the different ways of faith that we are told about in the first of today’s parables.
After giving it a thought, I came to think of the fairytale written by Hans Christian Andersen called ‘the little mermaid’. Do you all know it? Or maybe I should ask; do you know the Disney version, or Hans Christian Andersen’s original because they differ a lot.
Well, not in the beginning. Both versions start with a mermaid who is adventures and wants to learn all about what is up ashore. And one day while investigating, she falls in love with a prince whom she saves from drowning.
The mermaid wants to be with the prince but cannot due to her tail. She is approached by an evil witch though. A witch who offers her legs. All she must do is to give her voice to the witch.
In the original version it is also described how every step she takes with her feet will be like walking on knives, but this is left out in Disney’s more kid friendly version.
She says yes to the witch. And what I came to think of in comparison with today’s gospel is, that the little mermaid suddenly following this first ‘yes’ cannot utter ‘yes’ or ‘no’ with her mouth anymore, she can only express her ‘yes’ or ‘no’ through acts.
And truly this is an aspect of the parable that I have not talked about yet. That faith not only is about what you utter, but that faith is about acts as well. Something that is a part of all the four ways of faith that the Gospels lines out for us.
Another part of the deal with the witch is that the little mermaid must marry the prince within three days. If not, well in the original she will turn into sea foam.
This puts a lot of pressure on the little mermaid. She truly must get her acts together to make to prince love her.
In Disney’s version, the little mermaid succeeds in turning her ‘yes’ to the witch into a ‘yes’ from the prince. In the original, not so much.
Any way, the ending of the fairytale is not all that important to the ending of my sermon. What is important for me to say is that with the comparison with the little mermaid in mind, today’s Gospel Reading teaches us how it is important that we dare to follow our faith when–ever it takes us out of the pond and onto unknown surroundings. And, that we should always be drawn towards this unknown as well, because faith lies within what cannot be comprehended.
At least, if we compare the first way with the little mermaid, the little mermaid would be drawn towards the prince and the world beyond the sea, but would never dare to say ‘yes’.
If we compare with the second way, the little mermaid, would say ‘yes’, but not be willing to sacrifice what is necessary.
The third way is the happy one we know from Disney’s version.
And last, the fourth way probably is the way of all the mermaids who stays safely under water.
In the fairytale, most of the mermaids are following the fourth way. Hence, the comparison makes it clear to us, how faith is not to take for granted. It is a rare gift. At least in its thirds way.
Now I did not want to make this comparison to make us all discouraged and therefore, I would also like to end my sermon by saying two things:
First, try not to judge yourself too hard. If you are following the fourth way, you might need to change a thing or two, but if you are on either the first, second or third way, I do not think it is all that bad.
Second, remember that God will always look upon us with love. All we must do is to acknowledge that Jesus is the risen son of our Father. At first either with deeds or words, later hopefully with both making us bare the true fruits of faith.
Amen.
All of this might not have been a lot about Thanksgiving. I am sorry for that. But in a way, every time we praise God, we give thanks to his merciful deeds towards us. Hence, any service is a Thanksgiving service.