Saturday, September 27, 2014

LET THE SUNSHINE IN (Matthew 21:33-46)

LET THE SUNSHINE IN

Matthew 21:33-46





IN JEWISH PHILOSOPHY
SINCE GOD IS THE CREATOR
ALL PROPERTY IS HIS
MAN ONLY LEASES IT

THE RULES OF PROPERTY
ARE SACRED
AN EXAMPLE

YOU OR YOUR NEIGHBOR
CANNOT BUILD A FENCE
THAT WOULD BLOCK THE OTHER’S LIGHT

NOR A CONSTRUCTION SO HIGH
THE SUN CANNOT REACH THE OTHER’S CROPS


OWNERSHIP
BY INDIVIDUAL
FAMILY
 TRIBE
OR NATION
WAS HELD UNDER STRICT RULES

IN THIS PARABLE OF THE EVIL TENANTS
JESUS STARTS OUT TELLING A NORMAL STORY
THEN STARTS TO TALK GIBBERISH
ABOUT EVIL TENANTS
PLOTTING TO STEAL THE PROPERTY
WITH THE OWNER STILL ALIVE

IT’S A FAVORITE TRICK OF JESUS
TALKING GIBBERISH TO PEOPLE WHO KNOW BETTER

LIKE A MUSTARD TREE IN A GARDEN
WHEN FARMERS KNOW IT GROWS IN THE WILD
AS A SHRUB

OR WHEN HE SAYS
THERE WAS A FARM OWNER
WHO PAID HIS HIRED HANDS A PENNY
NO MATTER HOW LONG THEY WORKED

YOU COULD HEAR THE DAY LABORERS SAY

YAH
RIGHT
I’D LIKE TO SEE THAT
IF IT HAPPENED
SOMETHING MUST BE FROZEN OVER

IF JESUS HAD TOLD THE STORY STRAIGHT OUT
THEY’D FORGET IT
BUT IF HE PUZZLED THEM
THEY’D REMEMBER
AND THINK

SINCE CREATION
MAN HAS WRESTLED GOD
FOR OWNERSHIP OF THE GARDEN

ALL OF US ARE GUILTY
BUT ESPECIALLY IN THE TALE
THE LEADERS ARE TRYING TO REPLACE GOD
WITH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING
IN THEIR OWN IMAGE

BUT IN THEIR OWN LAW
THEY CANNOT BLOCK THE SUN
IT WILL PREVAIL


FRANK A VOLLMER

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