Injustice or extravagance?

Date: September 18, 2011

Liturgical Sunday: Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

RCL Scripture: Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45; Exodus 16:2-15; Philippians 1:21-30; Matthew 20:1-16

Sermon Title: Injustice or extravagance?

Knox Presbyterian [audio:https://wordsfromthemiddle.ca/wp-content/uploads/110918_-_knox.mp3|titles=Injustice or extravagance?]

St. Mark’s Presbyterian [audio:https://wordsfromthemiddle.ca/wp-content/uploads/110918_-_St_Marks.mp3|titles=Injustice or extravagance?]

Another sermon title that is a question. In this case, I received considerable assistance in answering the question for an interesting combination of Henri Nouwen and my wife, Heather.

The parable we look at this week is one of the many, many parables that have one obviously wrong interpretation and then a generally accepted interpretation . . . that I think is also wrong. I am not a biblical scholar by virtually any definition. Nor am I a homeletician who specializes in parables. If you have listened to me preach for an extended period of time you will know that I frequently avoid preaching on parables . . . they can just be so hard. This Sunday was different.

I would love to hear from any of you who think that this interpretation is incorrect or correct, for that matter. It is a little heterodox without being actively unorthodox . . . I think.

Blessings,

Barry

PS If your particular avenue of access to these sermons forces you to listen to them using the built-in audio player and you would prefer a different option, please click here to download the sermons as MP3 files.

PPS If you are ever interested in seeing what is coming up or to look back and see what hymns were used in a particular Sunday, the link above will take you to the little website I made for both congregations that has Scripture, hymns and sermon title. If you would like more, just let me know and I am sure I can get you a pdf or some such thing of the service bulletin.