Matthew 21:33-46

Proper 22 (27) - Year A

"So," asks Jesus, "what is the appropriate response to evil?"

The religious leaders universally cry, "Treat evil with evil, kill killers."

The religious leaders universally cry, "Those who keep the system going are best, those who will give an appropriate share to religious power."

Is that too harsh a characterization of their response?

No wonder Jesus again talks about a great reversal.

First he says, "As you judge, so shall you be judged - the living stone you reject will turn to death and redound to your detriment."

Then he says, "There is no religious power. There is only 'kingdom living.'"

The appropriate response to evil becomes living as though heaven were on earth. This is not concerned with success and making a mint selling a book about how to live well. This is the humble truth of a great reversal - the last shall become first (not in power, but in love of GOD and Neighbor).

Though filled with violence, this is a story of non-violence.

(Oh yes, by the way, don't read verse 44 as it is not in some transcripts. Let the story end with "GOD's kingdom is for those who will live out a kingdom life.")

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2002/october2002.html

Listen to another story. There was a Leader who had custody of a Land with a constitutional provision for common de-fence and infrastructure for the general welfare. Then the Leader leased the Land to Cronies and went on Vacation. These Cronies led the Land into great debt, reducing environmental protections and workplace safety, increasing the numbers in poverty and those without health care, leading the Land into preemptive war and faith-based science.

When those Cronies came to get their votes the Land tried to vomit them out. They spun and spun webs of lies and passed out promises of perks. But enough evidence of the destruction of the constitutional inheritance could not be hidden and the Cronies were tossed out on their ear. When back from Vacation the Leader is told, "The Land will be taken away from you and give to a people that produces common defense and general welfare," on what part will the Land toss the Leader?

This story has been told innumerable times from the perspective of every Party affiliation. Prophets who have ears to hear, keep the evidence of expected consequences for partisan purposes before us. Say it loud, clear, and often -- the Leader is naked!

Little wonder such Leaders attempt to silence such Prophets.

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/october2005.html

It is very easy to read Jesus' response about the rejected stone and that which is broken on it to follow the judgment of the chief priests and pharisees and see GOD's judgment overshadowing GOD's mercy. If we simply keep reading in a linear way we can have Jesus echoing this judgment of wrath.

The key words we miss are "Have you never read in the scriptures?" This is a signal that that which was just before is wrong and what immediately precedes this is wrathful judgment. This is the same issue before us today with those who would take every negative in the scripture and literally hold it close to their heart and before their eyes (how's that for a posture?). We who have appreciation for the steadfast expansion of love and mercy continue to cry out, "Have you never read in the scriptures....?"

Here what is being broken on the stone is not those ne'er-do-wells of the story but the wrath interpreters of the story. It is those whose first choice is wrath that will find themselves broken on the mercy of one they reject. What delicious irony. Too bad it comes at such a cost.

And still we are caught in costly ironies that have yet to be resolved in such a way that they can be recognized.

Until these ironies come clear, remember to keep responding, "Have you never read of GOD's steadfast love in the scriptures!?!"

http://www.kairoscomotion.org/lectionary/2005/october2005.html

World Communion Sunday, by its very existence, recognizes that there are incompatible differences between those who sacramentalize a eucharist in Jesus' name. We emphasize different commandments and so are constantly balancing and rebalancing our boundaries.

Putting the Exodus and Isaiah passages together we find less emphasis upon the specifics of thundering commandments, than on what G*D expects to be their result -- justice (Isaiah 5:7).

Left on our own, we are afraid - who can keep every jot and tittle? But seen as precursors to a longer prophetic justice (thus the vineyard images in these pericopes) we are able to keep on.

In this light, the Psalmist is correct to see the commandments as clarifying - "Here is an example of justice: honor those who have gone before." In keeping that which builds justice we find a great reward, one worth pursuing with all our energy. It is also this that connects us with Prophet Jesus - identifying a great justice and what stands in our way of moving toward it.

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listen to another parable
what is going to happen
to those in the tale
just so it will happen
to you and your family
as we project
so we are
change an expectation
and you change a course of history
facts are not immutable
or determinative
listen to a parable
live a parable

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html

Stones at hand to throw. Stones aplenty to stumble over. Stones to build a watchtower and good-neighbor fences.

Wealth desire more profit while it at ease, off and about. In this sense the wealthy are a stumbling stone. Given what is deemed to be sufficient cause, wealth will come down like a juggernaut to crush its stoners.

The question of response to the initial scene is crucial. Are market forces and the divine-right of wealth the standards of measurement for relationships? Is there any other credible response than a killing-for-a-killing that the current rich might continue so? If there are, in what way might they also contain a see that, over time, will grow into a stumbling stone of another color?

In light of economic issues in the news, here is a column I found helpful by Jim Taylor, Privatize Profits, Socialize Losses (9/28/08). How else might you link this Jesus story with today's events?

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.html

Parable upon parable reflects the facets of what it means to do business with one another in a framework of community. Economic models are often used in parables to break open our captivity by whatever economic model is currently idolatrized.

Here in Wisconsin we are sensitive to the landowner being too easily identified with the current reigning governance by governmental privatizers for the gain of corporate profit that reaps rewards without concomitant responsibility for sustainability. A union of “slaves” is unacceptable to entitled plutocrats.

This week’s hardened landowner (religious leaders), expecting their due reward for investments made (purity kept), might be seen as the stone upon which people have broken themselves for generation upon generation - the unearned profit, the individualized profit, the prideful profit not recognizing it is a product of exploitation of others rather than the strength of one pulling on their own bootstraps while never rising.

And so an alternative reading of this raises the question of what is rejected. Remember the judgment or interpretation rendered by chief religious leaders was “Death to Unions”. Might this attitude be what is rejected.

An inequitable economic system and religious leaders might be seen as the stones rejected by last week’s generous landowner. 

Jesus was speaking to the religious leaders who were stonily crushing those outside their inner leadership. Those who live by the stone will die by the stone. Let those with ears, hear. Awareness of this brokenness just might be a worthy cornerstone to build differently. A non-physical cornerstone may be the most helpful.

Rejection of profit and slaves as a cornerstone leads to a new framework of being in an endeavor together - Unions might be a renewed cornerstone in today’s attempt to use globalization to increase the number of “slaves” available to landowners.

= = = = = = =

Parable upon parable reflects the facets of what it means to do business with one another in a framework of community. Economic models are often used in parables to break open our captivity by whatever economic model is currently idolatrized.
...Rejection of profit and slaves as a cornerstone leads to a new framework of being in an endeavor together - Unions might be a renewed cornerstone in today’s attempt to use globalization to increase the number of “slaves” available to landowners.

I am profoundly, intensely interested in alternative models, have scoured everything I know and have not come up with enough to go on. Ideas? Anybody? I know this is a lection reflection but my seminary training urges me to look for the intense relevance in that which we take as "scripture" or else what is it worth?

I am co-owner of a small business, a service business that helps people with their hurting bodies, their hurting minds, their hurting spirits, their hurting lives. I live on $500 week (most weeks - some get skipped). What we do is more like a ministry than a business yet we live in a commerce-driven economy. The business model just does not fit very well. I served the church for many years, and that model seems unworking as well.

We will never be global so no option of increasing the number of slaves... no employees anyway. I am a "land/business owner" yet I have no slave workers who might organize against me. I wish I could support some employees.

Do we need something new, stunning, never done before yet integrating and transcending everything that has come before?

How do we do this if we are not to be locked into Union vs Management stalemate? What does "endeavor together" look like if we were to hammer out a business plan?

Tom

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Tom -

I’ve struggled with this one for 50+ years from the perspective of sociology as well as the scriptures. I note that these informational bases are different enough that translation between them is no easier than that between eastern and western medical modalities. A variety of ideal communities have risen and fallen over time. I’ve even been a part of several.

While appreciating the importance of intensity of interest, my suspicion is that a part of the difficulty of something new to lead us closer to a promised land is that very intensity. In one way and/or another, a demand for internal consistency and limited models of what it means to flourish keep getting in the way.

I was struck by today’s “Thought for the Day” from Wordsmith.org — Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof. -John Kenneth Galbraith, economist (1908-2006)

The Union v. Management distinction appears to be a polarity that shows up in many different ways and is basically unresolvable, but perhaps is managable.

Endeavoring together needs both a forward look to what is possible and a rearward look at the way survival issues keep cutting the possible off because of the level of risk to arrive beyond where we are. Without taking into consideration our failures, we cannot build success upon success. In Christian theology it may be that we not only need something “new, stunning never done before” but a more realistic approach to sin and forgiveness before integration and transcendence of the past will settle into a new plateau.

I agree that endeavoring together is a worthy goal and the specifics you are looking for matter a great deal. I hope I and we will continue to work on both clearer articulation of the issue at hand, putting in place steps to arrive beyond where we are, and dismantling the distractions to a communal goal of Loving Neighbor in practical terms.

Many, many thanks for engaging this question in the particulars of your life. They reflect the particulars of many.

Wesley

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While appreciating the importance of intensity of interest, my suspicion is that a part of the difficulty of something new to lead us closer to a promised land is that very intensity.

Point well taken. But at some point G*D and intensity become synonymous (consider Moses' encounter which required that YHWH shield the divine face from Moses, leaving Moses to gaze only at YHWH's backside).

And bland mediocre never accomplished anything. But you know that, my friend. Beneath your thin veneer of eirenic persona lurks raw revolutionary intensity. Yes?

In one way and/or another, a demand for internal consistency and limited models of what it means to flourish keep getting in the way.

Yes, yes and yes. But everybody knows that evolution does not proceed by the principle of internal consistency. Something happens that is a quantum leap, an emergent un-looked for, unexpected. A Christ-event.

I am getting really, REALLY tired of one damn advent after another. Can we not, at least internally, in thought-space we-space, toss internal consistency to the four winds? Even the Israelites (well, some of them) actually made it to the promised land (we'll ignore the ensuing genocide that followed...).

I was struck by today’s “Thought for the Day” from Wordsmith.org — Faced with the choice between changing one's mind and proving that there is no need to do so, almost everyone gets busy on the proof. -John Kenneth Galbraith, economist (1908-2006)

Yes, so that means that "almost everyone" is not going to get us where we need to do. I opt out of being an "almost everyone." Anyone else out there? A bunch of us opter-outters might try to endeavor together... After "metanoia" (changing one's mind" is a fabulous (if not intense) spiritual practice... oops, this is Matthew, not Romans... sorry...

Endeavoring together needs both a forward look to what is possible and a rearward look at the way survival issues keep cutting the possible off because of the level of risk to arrive beyond where we are.

Time has come, seems to me, that the risk of surviving has become unacceptably high, and looking forward to what is possible, arriving beyond where we are, is the less risky.

T.

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Opter-outers - how delightful. I'm in.

I'm in cahoots with the status quo.

I'm in with opting out.

Some days I'm up to being down with taking a risk larger than any I've taken so far. Some days, not so much.

My eirenic predisposition does need jacking up. And slowing down even further. Some revolt with a full action plan and some with sitting in a desert.

May each of us find the edge of our map marked with "Here be dragons" and sojourn awhile in that fair land.

A part of the lection I didn't deal with the first time around was Moses speaking to the folks when they were trying to back away from an experience of G*D, an identification with G*D, and place Moses and subsequent religious leaders between themselves and their identification experience. Moses correctly responds with the angelic refrain, "Don't be afraid". Don't be afraid of moving beyond your past. Don't be afraid of the vagaries of life with a living G*D. Don't be afraid of tests. Don't be afraid of awe. Don't be afraid of sin. Don't be afraid.

Opters-out reveal the wisdom of breaking a barrier, even a G*D-imposed one, to near a one-to-one correspondence with that which is able to lead out from slavery. "Don't be afraid" is not the same as "No fear". One is communal encouragement to one another and the other is individualistic braggadocio. We can still be scared at not living up to our own best ideals, but assured past fear of being in tune with the music of the spheres regardless of a bump or two or death.

Thanks, T for your engagement. May your ministry bloom and grow.

Wesley

http://kcmlection.blogspot.com/2011/09/matthew-2133-46.html

Considerable Rising Needed