Wednesday, June 29, 2011

2nd Sunday after Trinity - Revisited Again

The Gospel for Sunday is Luke 14:15-24. This isn't quite how it goes.

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When one of those who reclined at table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, "Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!" But He answered him and said, "You lazy jerk, you can't even sit up to eat. Blessed is the one who receives? Bah! Let me tell you how it really is.

"A man once made plans for a great feast, and when it was time for the feast, he sent out his servant to call the invited guests to come. When the servant came to the first, the first said, 'Excellent, I'll come right away.' But then the servant noted that there was a receipt for a new field, and so the servant said to the the man, 'What is this? This field has yet to be worked. How can you think of rejoicing and feasting when there is still so much more for you to do.' And then with many long exhortations lasting well over 30 minutes, the servant exhorted the man to do the specific works God was clearly wanting him to do, including telling what sort of crops to plant.

"The servant then came to the next man, who too said, 'Excellent, I'll come right away.' But when the servant noted that there were newly purchased oxen, he said to the man, 'I see you have new oxen - you had better forgo the feast and put those oxen to work -- because after all, what's the point of having oxen unless you work and work and work them.' Then he exhorted the man for over 30 minutes on the importance of proper industry in the Christian's life.

"The servant then came to a man, who too said, 'Excellent, I'll come right away.' But then the servant noted that this man was newly married. The servant then said, 'Does this woman know all the things she is supposed to do? You have no time for a feast, you must teach and train her!' So the servant exhorted the man for well over an hour on all the things he must train his wife to do - and gave him copies of Proverbs 31 and the OEconomics by Aristophanes.

"The servant then returned to the master and told him why the people could not simply be focused on the feast, but rather had to attend to their works. And the master rejoiced, because work is much better than his feast. But then the master noted that there was scum and rift-raft and sinners in the banquet hall. So he said to his servant, 'What are all these jerks doing here?'

"The servant then replied, 'I will feed them a bit of the feast, and then, when they have eaten, I will exhort them to do good works. They will feel guilty and obligated to your generosity. I figure this might fix our cheap labor needs.'

"Then the master was well pleased, for he hated the thought of anyone getting a free lunch, and he delights not in giving good things to people, but putting them to work so they reach their full potential. Likewise, I say unto you, blessed are those who work, for they will then be confident that they have earned their bread in the kingdom of God."

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Oh, wait, that's not quite how it goes.