Considering our treasures

This Sunday, I will be preaching on Jesus' parable about the tenants of the vineyard in Matthew 21:33-46.  Its parables like this one that make me like the "easier" ones like The Lost Sheep or the Prodigal Son.  In this story, we have tenants who take over a newly-created vineyard, servants who are beaten, stoned, and killed, a son who is murdered, and then really strong words from Jesus towards the religious leaders of the day.  Not an easy combination of things in this story.

What stands out to me initially in the story is the vineyard itself.  The vineyard must have been a beautiful place given to these tenants.  It had a fence to protect it, strong vines growing throughout, a watchtower to oversee everything, and a wine press to make, of course, wine.  It must have been a wonderful new vineyard to tend.  From there story moves to the ultimate question of what the tenants did with this vineyard - how did they treat it, manage it, share it.

It got me thinking about treasures that we have been given.  What are the treasures of our lives?  Mementos from your family, pictures drawn by children, something from childhood, a newspaper clipping, a photograph, something else?

We will spend some time on Sunday thinking about those treasures in our lives, but also focusing on the ultimate treasure that God has entrusted to us as God's people.  Feel free to bring one of your treasures along with you to worship on Sunday as we spend some time with this passage on World Communion Sunday.

I look forward to being with you all in a few days!

Grace & Peace,

Ed