I start this message with a Collect.
Our Lord Jesus, you have endured doubts and foolish questions
Of every generation. Forgive us for trying to be judge over you,
Grant us the confident faith to acknowledge you as Lord.
"The Vineyard Song."
Let me now sing of my friend, my friends song concerning his vineyard. My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside, (the Lord and his chosen people).
He spaded it, cleared it of stones, and planted the choicest vines;
Within he built a watchtower, and hewed out a wine press.
Then he looked for a crop of grapes.
But what it yielded was wild grapes.
Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard. That I had not done?
Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes did it bring forth wild grapes?
Now, I will let you know what I mean to do to my vineyard:
Take away its hedge, give it to grazing, break through its wall, Let it be trampled!
yes, I will make it a ruin: It shall not be pruned or hoed, but overgrown with thorns and briers;
I will command the clouds not to send rain upon it.
The disappointment of the vineyard, now I will sing to my well beloved. ( Remember this is a parable).
The prophet singing to Jehovah, concerning the Lord, but at the same time expressing the thought of the Lord, touching his vineyard, that of his Church), at the time of the prophet.
For the Vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel and the men of Judah his pleasant plant, literally, " The plant of his pleasure;" And he looked for judgment, that the people would do what is right and good, But, behold oppression, the infringement of rights by graft and other forms of wickedness. ( here is the explanation of the parable briefly?)
Israel was the vineyard of the Lord separated by him from all nations, placed into a rich and fruitful land. and endowed with unsurpassed blessings in every respect, among them the nobles, the patriarchs, the Kings, the Priests, and the Prophets. The watchtower of God in their midst of his
was the government of David and of his house. But, this vineyard had bitterly disappointed the Lord in his expectations, so two things happened 1). He got his son ready to replace Israel; remember this book was written 900 years before the coming of Christ: 2.) and the final punishment was in full measure, not only the Babylonian Captivity, but the ultimate overthrow of the Jewish nation. and church in A.D. 70. Many, many, years ago when our daughter was small, one summer we spent a family holiday in Idyllwild, which is located in the San Jacinto mountains in Southern California, (often referred to as Paradise). One of the many things that we rejoiced in our hearts about the rugged landscapes and the steeply terraced slopes that were covered with snow and cold, cold, cold and cold. This was the first snow our daughter had seen, and played in. Now she keeps it close to her all year round. She calls Conn. her cuddling state. Oh, where did her Mother and go wrong? We rented a big house which had eight rooms, No telephone, or T.V. It had been built by the man who started "Barnum and Baily Circus". It was wonderful opportunity, to get a closer look at nature and the best family time. We played in the streams, made-up with clear ice cold water, and it was sad to leave. (Now, Back to the vineyard.) I grew -up with a grape arbor in the back yard, so massive it covered a horse-less buggy under it. The vines were young and fragile looking, with translucent leaves and tiny-stem branches; others were massive, gnarled, and obviously ancient.It brings to mind, the picture of Jesus telling his disciples and us, in one of the most powerful and evocative images in the gospel, Jesus tell his disciples and now us: "I am the vine, you are the branches." Apart from me, you can do nothing.
The analogy of vine and branches has long been at the heart of the Christian community in understanding the "Eucharist" mystery, and vocation. Therein precisely lies the richness of the image-and danger. The focus within much liberal "Protestant" life has typically been on producing much fruit, rather then abiding in Christ. While ignoring the contemplative element, we tend to be preoccupied with the urgent needs of the world that require us to " bear much fruit." What we fear most is being able to " Do Nothing,' believing that faith without works is dead (James 2:17). In our impatience for change, we can come to believe that social change is more urgent than contemplative contact with the source of all life. We may persuade ourselves, as Henri Nouwen ( Catholic Priest) confesses he did for years, that being " relevant, popular, and powerful, are necessary ingredients of effective ministry. When in truth, these are not vocations but temptations. In our lives as Christians, cutting ourselves off from the life-giving vine has at least two dangers. First, we will probably become engrossed in the visible results of our doing. Second, we may never develop much stamina for seasons of drought. seasons of drought and failure. Either way we risk losing radical unity with Christ the vine that he intents for us.
The Prophet Habakkuk, writing in the seventh century BC during the worst of the " Babylonian Captivity," braved the question of why God seems to countenance the treacherous and is "Silent" when the wicked swallow those more righteous than they (Hab. 1:13). The answer he received assured him that God is eternally present and sovereign. " There is still a vision for the appointed time . If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come (Hab. 2:3).
The book ends with a song of luminous serenity and trust in the face of utter desolation:
Though the fig trees does not blossom,
and no fruit is on the vines;
Though the produce of the olives fails
and the fields yields no food;
Though the flock is cut off from the fold
and there is no herd in the stalls,
Yet I will rejoice in the Lord;
I will exult in the God of my salvation. ( Hab. 3: 17-18).
Let the Christian Church and all those who profess to be members of the "Church take warning, for the Lord searches the reins and hearts and at all times expects true fruits of righteousness from all those who are called after His name.
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