October 1, 2020i

                                                           Matthew 21:33-46

Scripture readings

for Sunday, Oct. 4

Isaiah 5:1-7

Psalm 80:7-15

Philippians 3:4b-14

Matthew 21:33-46

REFLECTION

By Pastor Ivy Gauvin

This parable is the second of three in which Jesus responds to those who question Jesus’ authority to do the things he had been doing on his way to and once in the temple: the triumphal entry into the city (which we celebrate with Palm Sunday), overturning the money changers’ tables in the temple, teaching, and healing in the temple. Last week Jesus turned the tables on his questioners and he does the same in this parable.

Matthew presents Jesus as telling the parable and asking a question (v. 41). To understand Jesus’ point, it helps to view the parable as a trial scene. Jesus presents the evidence against the tenants (vv. 33-40). The religious leaders serve as the jury and pronounce the tenants as guilty (v. 40). The questioners use stern language because as the religious, political, and economic elite, they identify with the landowner in the story. Jesus then hands down the sentence but in doing so turns the tables on the jury (21:42-44). Jesus identifies with the tenants instead of the landowner, and thus places the religious leaders in the position of having convicted themselves (O. Wesley Allen, Jr., Fortress Biblical Preaching Commentaries: Matthew).

Leave it to Jesus. He continually identified with the disenfranchised and marginalized, which would have been the case with tenant-farmers. In this parable, with whom do we identify? Sometimes we have a pretty high opinion of ourselves.

These events take place shortly before Jesus makes his way to the cross, identifying so closely with the marginalized, the abused. To take up our crosses and follow Jesus means we too are to ally ourselves with those in need.

Let us pray. Lord Jesus, help us to have a heart for the marginalized even as you do. Amen.

[Jesus said to the people:] 33“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. 34When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. 35But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. 37Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.’ 39So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.”

  42Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:

 ‘The stone that the builders rejected

  has become the cornerstone;

 this was the Lord’s doing,

  and it is amazing in our eyes’?

43Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. 44The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.”

  45When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. 46They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Names will remain of the Prayer List for a month - at which

time it will be taken off unless, or course, there is still a continued need

for our prayers and we’re asked to keep the name on.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

***5 & 2 Ministry Food Bins Donated to Date:  85

Just 2 more bin of food to go!!  

Donated to date:  66 bins

Blessing of the Animals

                                              This Saturday, October 3rd at 10:00 am, Pastor Ivy

                                              Gauvin will have a “Blessing of the Animals” to be

                                              held in the front yard of St. Timothy Lutheran Church.

                                              All pets and working animals welcome!  (Please use

                                              leash for your animals.)     

ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY highway collection - Saturday, Oct. 3rd at 9:30 a.m.  Meet in the church parking lot.

***ONLINE GIVING now available at St. Timothy for Debit/Credit cards.   3 ways to give:

   - Go directly to our website at www.sttimothybemus.com

   - Use our QR code with the QR reader on your smartphone

   - Download the app ‘GivePlus Church’. Create an account.   

For further information, see Kathy Carlson on Sundays or call her at 485-1316.

***Parking – Now that it’s October, we’re removing the orange cones in the lower driveway so that the indoor people can enter in the lower driveway and the drive-in people can enter in the upper driveway to receive their bulletin and communion. 

***Everyone has stories of how they have been changed in recent months. Tell us your story.

What’s Your Story?

Name (optional)

Your Story:

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Send to Pastor Ivy via email pastorivyg@gmail.com, phone or text 716-904-0855.

***Sunday, November 1 is All Saints' Day, when we remember our loved ones who have joined the church triumphant since last year's All Saints' Day. Please contact Pastor Ivy or Kathy Korcyl in the church office with the names of those you want remembered. 

We've returned to worshiping in the sanctuary as well as worshiping in our cars.

Time:  10:00 a.m

Place:  3748 Rt. 430

Length:  30 minutes

WEAR YOUR MASKS

Coming inside? COME EARLY!