Preaching the Scriptures

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Matthew 22:15-22 Whose Image is This? It is said that one should not talk about certain topics in polite company: religion, politics, sex, and money.   I’m not sure we count as polite company, but, let's see how we're doing.   We talk about religion a lot here – and we should; we are a church.   And, the Church, the capital “C” Church, has spent a lot of time talking about sex – not my sex or your sex but the sex some other people might be having. They are not necessarily always helpful or gracious conversations; most of the time, they would be better described as arguments.   But nevertheless, we've talked some about sex.   Sex comes up and Church people have opinions.   Politics is a little complicated; what constitutes a political opinion or discussion is often subjective.   And while we honor the separation of Church and State, meaning we don't talk partisan politics or endorse political candidates from t...

The Rev. Jeremiah Williamson Matthew 21:33-46 More than we deserve What do you think you deserve?   Maybe a nicer home, a bigger paycheck, more respect, a promotion, perhaps?   What do you think you deserve? This is the piece I find most fascinating, and disturbing, about today’s Gospel reading from Matthew.   I mean, there is plenty of disturbing to go around.   It’s actually a very violent story.   But in a chilling twist, the parable ends with the owner of the vineyard sending his son, his heir, into the vineyard to collect the produce and the tenants kill the son.   The reason they kill the son is because they think, with the heir out of the picture, the owner of the vineyard will will the vineyard to them – that they would be next in line.   Through some kind of twisted logic they convince themselves that the vineyard owner will reward their murderous tendencies, will treat them as sons.   After all, for all of their hard w...