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Sermon October 1, 2023
Sue Beamer
The Church of the Nativity and St. Stephen’s
Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Year A, Track 1, Proper 21
http://www.lectionarypage.net/YearA_RCL/Pentecost/AProp21_RCL.html
Audio: /documents/Morning_Prayer__October_1__2023
Video: https://youtu.be/VyQ5vkppTxc
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
As we review our Gospel lesson (Matthew 21: 23 —32) today, Jesus is teaching in the Temple. Jesus had just ridden into Jerusalem (Palm Sunday) to the shouts of Hosanna. He entered the Temple and overturned the tables of the money changers, and healed the lame and the blind.
The following day he would enter the Temple and begin teaching. When the chief priests and elders came to him and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" They were more concerned who gave Him the authority to do these things than what He was doing.
Jesus had healed a man's withered arm on the Sabbath. They only could see what they were conditioned to see. Was He doing this by His own authority or was it by God's authority? Jesus did not answer their question, but ask them a question.
If you answer my question, I will answer yours. Was the baptism of John the Baptist from Heaven or was it from human origin? If we say Heaven, he will say why did you not believe him. If we say human origin, we will be afraid of the crowds because they regard John as a prophet, sent by God. The chief priests and elders were not willing to change their thinking. They answered Jesus's question, "We do not know." Jesus answered them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."
A father had two sons: The first son he ask to go into the vineyard and work, He said no, but later in the day he went in the vineyard and worked. He went to his second son and ask him to work in the vineyard. He said he would, but never did. Which son did the will of this father? They answered the first. They were quick to answer because they have quick opinions and judgements. What they didn't realize was in judging the people, they were judging themselves.
The religious leaders of Jesus's time did not heed John the Baptist because their minds were already made up. They could not change their thinking, so they did not do the will of the Father.
I wonder if the same predicaments plague us today.
