tonight's sermon was on the parable of Matthew 20:1-16:

The Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard 1"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. 2He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3"About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' 5So they went. "He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. 6About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?' 7" 'Because no one has hired us,' they answered. "He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.' 8"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.' 9"The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.' 13"But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? 14Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?' 16"So the last will be first, and the first will be last."

as pastor justin was saying, this one is a hard one to swallow. at the face value, it sounds like jesus is telling us to just "suck it up" and don't question...and perhaps don't complain either. and what's with that mysterious last verse?

but alas, it's not about us but it's about the GRACE we're living in, with, cuz of, etc. here are 3 points:

1. god is saying he is fair: don't focus on the "injustification" of workers who worked harder but got the same pay, but focus on the workers who he "recruited" last but was paid the same;

2. god is a persuing god: he is constantly and tirelessly "recruiting"

3. god is generous: this has nothing to do with who DESERVES or what doesn't. it is HIS will and HIS generosity.

i was thinking about my current roomie situation. i am being judgemental, i cannot just stand why she is like that. but she is like that...because god has also given her a life, whatever that's worth and that's NOT MY CALL to judge (e.g. "why does god even give her a good school life? all that scholarship? why is she here to bother me?" etc.). i should be just thankful that god has granted me

a) a non-druggie roomie
b) a CLEAN roomie
c) a relatively QUIET roomie
d) one who pays on-time roomie
etc.

there's much to be thankful for. i should be grateful for HIS WILL that he has brought me to the arms of him again after a long period before, that i am at a good church, being fed, etc.

boy do i ever need the reminder! it's really hard for me to do that because whenever i deal with my roommate, i completely forget.

oy vey, GRACE POR FAVOR! heheheh