Pentecost 18 A: Words and Deeds
Las Vegas.
Dear Partner in Preaching, I will confess that I have had a very hard time getting beyond the images and sounds from the horrific shooting in Las Vegas. They have preyed upon my imagination relentlessly, and perhaps they have for you, too…and for many of our people.
Violence. More ominously, inexplicable, seemingly random violence. Which is part of what is most frightening. Not only is it becoming clear that there is no easy way to protect vulnerable crowds from gun violence, but also that we can discover no motive, which simultaneously makes this act of horrific violence more random and harder to understand and also makes us all feel more vulnerable. Who next? What next? When, not if.
The violence in Los Vegas pushed me to think about this week’s Gospel reading a little differently. It, too, is violent. The violence of the tenants, the assumed and anticipated violence of the landlord. This week’s events pushed me to focus on the answer to Jesus’ question at the end: “Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” As he is referring to the tenants who beat, stoned, or killed two sets of servants who came to collect the vineyard owner’s due and then murdered outright the owner’s son and heir, the Pharisees have no difficulty in answering: “He will put those wretches to a miserable death.”
Jesus’ next words, as recorded by Matthew, seem at first glance to confirm this instinct to respond to violence with yet more violence, as he references the Psalms (118:22) to explain how those who oppose and reject him are missing God’s plan for salvation and therefore will lose the kingdom. That shouldn’t be terribly surprising, as even a quick read of Matthew reveals a consistently harsher attitude toward Jewish religious authorities than you find in Luke or Mark. Historians have suggested that members of Matthew’s largely Jewish community, perhaps worn down by distress and danger in the wake of the destruction of the Temple, were contemplating returning to the faith of their youth and that Matthew consequently saw the Pharisees as competitors for their loyalty.
When I keep in mind that Matthew’s community was a vulnerable religious minority of the day, I can sympathize with his plight and response. But I still regret it, because when Christianity went from minority to majority religion of the Roman Empire and grew into the most powerful political and cultural force in Europe, these same verses and others like them helped to justify centuries of mistreatment of Jews by Christians. Violence yet again.
Images of the violence in Las Vegas and references to it in the parable made me, at first, despair of whether there is any alternative. And then I looked beyond the passage and thought about where Matthew’s narrative is taking us. And it, also, leads to an act of violence: Crucifixion. Of the innocent Son and heir. Just like in the parable. But then all of a sudden it’s not the same. Because rather than return violence for violence, in the cross of Jesus God absorbs our violence and responds with life, with resurrection, with Jesus triumphant over death and offering, not retribution, but peace.
Whatever we may make of the words Matthew records Jesus offering, that is, Jesus’ actual deeds are quite different. He does not shrink from the sacrifice on the cross, he does not return with vengeance, he does not kick anyone out of the kingdom of heaven. Instead, the resurrected Jesus, having taken on the worst that our violence can inflict, comes back and instructs his disciples to take the good news of the Gospel to the very ends of the earth, promising to be with them always.
And for me, this week, that good news means in part that violence does not and will not have the last word. That the only response to violence is not more violence. That tragedy and death and loss and hatred are, in the end, no match for love and life and forgiveness and peace.
We may never know what motivated the gunman in Las Vegas. And there’s a lot of work to do to take action on policies and procedures that will make our people safer from gun violence and other forms of terrorism. But in the meantime, we have the promise that even when it looks like violence is the only outcome and response possible – “He will put those wretches to a miserable death.” – it’s not. Perhaps that’s all the religious authorities in the story could imagine, or maybe it was all Matthew the Evangelist could imagine. Maybe at times it’s all our leaders can imagine, and perhaps all we can imagine, too. But there is another way forward. For while Jesus’ words, Matthew’s words, and our words all matter, Jesus’ deeds matter even more, as Jesus’ death and resurrection creates more possibilities than those we can see, including the possibility of peace
- Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid (John 14:27).
- Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. (Mt. 5:9).
- Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. (Rom. 12:15-18).
- And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Mt. 28:20).
This does not erase our grief or lessen our call to act to make such atrocities less likely. But it does, in the meantime, offer us hope, and hope is the birthplace of faithful action, compassion, and resolve. So thank you for your words of both comfort and courage this week, Dear Partner. Just now, we need them both.
Yours in Christ,
David
Thank you. I needed to read this today as I am prepping for Sunday. I’m working on finding the images of hope that we can cling to in times like these, while sifting through the messiness of this parable.
Amen and amen, brother.
Thank you very much for your thoughts. This is very helpful for me. Like you the Las Vegas shooting had deeply affected me this week. And as I went back to read this Scripture for my sermon this Sunday , I see and hear the violence from this text and it makes me even more restless on how to address it . And at the same time, what is the good news that I would proclaim?
Thanks David. with my wife’s distant relative actually one of the victims and already on his 4th surgery this image of violence and even retribution are vivid within this household. We know family is gathered and in prayer even as they are sickened to weariness and there hope today is in several things. first in their sons strength, second in God’s loving presence and 3rd in the God given talents of their beautiful sons caregivers. I suspect they are looking for the best outcome for all the right reasons trusting and hoping in faith.
Even if I knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree.
Some say a quote from Martin Luther. Not sure if this helps but right now better than more violence
I sense that there is also a way to find the gospel message in the unselfish care extended to strangers who became instant family (or community) in the midst of and aftermath of the shooting, some risking – and some even giving – their own life for another.
I’ve been checking for your posting each day this week, David, as I pondered the parable and Las Vegas. I feel stunned by the repeated violence in the story and in our newscasts. It is the cross that overcomes – not the violence, but the gift God gave the world through it. Thank you for pondering what’s troubling and sharing your thoughts. It keeps me a little more sane as I sit listening for the Spirit, reminding myself of the strength of the Gospel truth, so I can proclaim it and help bring comfort to fearful people.
All I can say is amen and thank you. I’ve been struggling all week with this parable in the wake of the violent tragedy in Las Vegas and a tragedy in the congregation I serve that unfolded over the last two days. Your insight on this challenging parable has provided a gift and good news – a message of grace, mercy, love and hope – that not only I can share and proclaim but that speaks to and helps my own heart. Thank you.
Thanks David for reminding me to remember that one definition of resurrection is “a way through.”
While this horrific tragedy is unbelievable I’m reminded that the disciples first reaction to the resurrection was the same, they could not believe it, Tragedy takes us into the depths and the heights is a helpful thing to remember and there are times we have trouble believing both for a time.
What happened in Las Vegas does make us realize our vulnerability and exposes the underbelly of violence. The concert goers in Las Vegas did not return violence, nor did they escalate it. Their response was to help others find shelter, tend to the wounded and in some cases sacrifice their own lives. There were no strangers in that crowd. I think we need to ask ourselves–what is our response? What steps can we take to ensure this does not happen again or that this does not become the way of life.
Thank you… I was hoping to find someone writing and facing the violence head on… you’ve reminded me on the Easter message… that I can preach…
I have found Richard Rohr encouraging and helpful when it comes to thinking about Violence. https://cac.org/nonviolence-weekly-summary-2017-09-23/
This parable seems to speak to the present threat and counter threat between North Korea and USA and AUstralia. How sad that the US Vice President’s desire for “conversation” between the leaders is rebuffed.