May 17, 2020 

On Maundy Thursday evening Jesus addresses his disciples, telling them that he will not leave them as orphans [or desolate]. Jesus knows he is going to the Father but will give them another Helper. They don’t need another Helper yet because Jesus is still with them, but will soon when Jesus ascends to the Father. That Helper Jesus will send is also known as the Paraclete, a Greek word that translates as a defense attorney.

The disciples don’t realize it yet but they will indeed need someone who will defend them and give them words to speak on their behalf when confronted by opposition. If it were not for Pentecost (when the Spirit came upon the Christian community), the Heavenly Father’s purpose and Christ’s own work would never have been accomplished.

Jesus knew that his disciples would not understand at this point; but Jesus discloses the divine secret that, when he left them, their loss would be compensated for by a greater blessing than that of his presence bodily. Another Helper would come in his place, to dwell with and even within them forever.

We being Jesus’ disciples as well, realize that we are not alone. Under the control of the Holy Spirit we abandon ourselves completely to the control of the Holy Spirit and allow Pentecost to happen to us. It has happened to us – even from the time of our baptism in Jesus’ name. Now we let it happen to others through us, and it will become increasingly apparent that we are not orphans or desolate. We are Spirit-gifted, vessels in extending the Kingdom of heaven in this world we live in.

He lent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their season. Mt 21:41b

Jesus had various reasons for doing so much of His teaching by way of parables. In some instances, it was to hide the true meaning from those who were immature and undiscerning. He must have had the latter in mind when He told this parable of “The Gracious Master” (also known as “The Wicked Tenants.”) 

It was during His last week upon this earth. The ever- increasing hostility of the religious authorities was about to culminate in His execution. Our Lord, in very picturesque language, levels with His disciples, and there is little doubt that some of them understood full well His meaning.

The parable points up the responsibility of our nation and our church before our Creator and God. Our greatest concern, however, is what He may be saying about us as individuals about our responsibility as His followers. 

As the Master of the parable sent his son into the vineyard, so Christ is in our midst. And His presence demands a response. We are not as neglectful as were the tenants of this parable; we sing hymns, spell out our creeds, make the elaborate motions of worship, and are respectfully aware of altar and cross. 

But what does Jesus find in our hearts? He does not find the hatred of the parable-tenants, but He might find something just as insidious – preoccupation, procrastination, neglect to fully embrace Christ and His life- style, unwillingness to give Him prior devotion or to dedicate our lives to working within His vineyard and living out His purposes in our day-to-day activities because of the discomfort or inconvenience or personal sacrifice this may entail.

May the Lord break through the dominion of sin and self-centeredness in our lives and make us a vineyard that will yield fruit to God’s glory and toward the salvation of others.

May 3, 2020

If we were to speak of the primary subject of the New Testament, the ultimate purpose of religious organizations and movements about us, the aim of all sermons preached and services conducted, the object of God made incarnate and living among us, the significance of the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus, it would add up to one word: LIFE. “I came,” said Jesus, “that they might have life, and have it abundantly” [John 10:10b].

It is Jesus who is the authentic Door to Life in respect to the physical being of His people. He is Lord of all. Jesus is the Door to Life in respect to our intellectual faculties. Jesus is the Door to our moral life. Jesus is the Door in respect to our spiritual nature.

Truly the resurrected Jesus is the Door to abundant living, to fulfillment and enrichment, meaning and purpose. Thus Jesus tells us: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

May we give thanks to God for coming to us, for opening the Door to abundant living through Jesus.