The 19th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 20A), Sept. 21, 2008
BCP: Jonah 3:10-4:11; Psalm 145 or 145:1-8; Phil. 1:21-27; Matt. 20:1-16
RCL: Exod. 16.2-15 and Psalm 105:1-6, 37-45; or Jonah 3:10-4:11 and Psalm 145:1-8; Phil. 1:21-30; Matt. 20:1-16
Envy is one of the most destructive forces in human relationships. Close friends who cherish each other’s company and share the most intimate confidences can still secretly wish that they possessed the other’s looks or family or wealth or resume.
Envy is insidious. Almost imperceptibly, it invades the mind and establishes itself in the heart. Just as we may not notice the early stages of a cold, so we may not see our craving for what others have is festering like a low-grade fever. A relationship with a friend may deteriorate so subtly that we don’t realize what has gone wrong until it is too late to save the friendship.
In Christ’s parable of the workers in the vineyard, day laborers are envious of the equal pay received by other workers who entered the vineyard much later. Those who worked a full day are angry even though they received the wages they were promised.
In the parable, the landowner seems to represent God. Christ implies that the dispensing of divine grace shouldn’t give rise to envy. As the landlord remarks, “Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me?” God, being God, can surely do what he wishes — the whole creation belongs to him.
Nevertheless, envy can take a particularly ugly form when it takes up residence in people of faith. Christians may become obsessed with blessings others seem to have received from God. They start to believe that God has performed miracles for other believers but that apparently he has refused to perform miracles for them. And they especially resent fellow Christians who seem satisfied with their religion without having devoted long hours to laboring in the vineyard.
One antidote to this spiritual jealousy can be to try to think of undeserved blessings you have received in the past. (And it is very likely you have received some. If you have the leisure and the education to be reading this page, you likely will have received blessings most day laborers would envy.) If you recognize all you have been given, your jealousy of others may diminish.
The actions of God admittedly are mysterious. Yet we need to look beyond the apparent arbitrariness of God to the goodness of God that is also manifest in the world around us. In all lives, the grace of God can be found—although we still have to appreciate that God’s grace is for God to dispense.
Look It Up
The Old Testament prophets discuss how “God’s ways are not our ways” (Isaiah 55:8).
Think About It
Is there any friend of yours of whom you are envious? How are your feelings damaging your relationship?
Next Sunday
The 20th Sunday after Pentecost, (Proper 21A), Sept. 28, 2008
BCP: Ezek. 18:1-4, 25-32; Psalm 25:1-14 or 25:3-9; Phil. 2:1-13; Matt. 21:28-32
RCL: Exod. 17:1-7 and Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16; or Ezek. 18:1-4, 25-32 and Psalm 25:1-8; Phil. 2:1-13; Matt. 21:23-32
