St Matthew, Chapter 20, verse: 8a, The Call of the Laborers.

Our paragraph topic is:(Parable of the laborers in the vineyard) Part 10.

Evening approaches and it's time for the labor to end.  Christ continues to tell this parable of the laborers.  He wants his disciples to understand the parallel to real life that this story follows.  There are laborers.  There was work.  There is time to work and time to stop working.  And then there is pay for the labor that is expended.  This is the parallel that this story follows so far.  We have been talking about work and pay, entering into the kingdom and what needs to be done to enter in.

The message of the kingdom is the work.  The labor is getting the message out to the people.  How should that be accomplished?  There are many who need to hear the message.  There are many who are in want of the message.  There are many who can use the message to help them enter into the kingdom.  Who will carry it?  Who will be the messenger?  Who will show how to use the message and lead the way?  The work is waiting and the time for payment is near.  "But when evening had come , the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the laborers, and pay them their wages.' "  

The time for payment is near.  The laborers have worked all day.  Some from the beginning, some from the middle of the day, some from the last quarter of the day, and some from the last hour of the day.  They all worked.  Some worked more, some worked less but they all worked.  Are we working?  Are we carrying the message?  Are we playing the part of the messenger assuring that the word gets out to those in need?  Are we lending a hand?  Are we feeding the poor when we see them?  Are we clothing the naked, helping the sick and dying?  Are we the vessel through which our Father is able to reach his children?

We were all created in his image and likeness.  We are all his children.  We are all spiritual beings not physical.  Can you see your brother/sister in a different way?  Can you accept them as you accept yourself even though they may not look like you on the outside, or smell like you?  Can you transform your vision to see the physical?  Can you transform your feelings to feel the presence of your spiritual brother or sister in another person?  Can you look deeper into the soul to see the light of life given you through the sacrifice of Christ? 

Our vision is tainted through the glasses of the world.  We see what the world wants us to see.  We see what we have been programed to see.  And yet it takes an inner knowledge of oneself to see beyond the physical.  It takes an inner acceptance and peace to know what is within ourselves and everyone else.  It takes an inner spark to be what Christ came to give us.  See the light of life that is within you and you will be able to see in others what is within you. 

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you.  Open the door and let him in. 

St Matthew, Chapter 20, verse: 7b, No Man to hire.

Our paragraph topic is: (Parable of the laborers in the vineyard) Part 9.  

Our story continues.  Christ is telling his disciples about the house-holder who has property and needs help to harvest the crop.  He has gone to the market several times during the day and found workers standing around with no work.  Even at the last hour of the day he has gone and found workers without work.  He is puzzled as to why they are still standing around without work and he asks them why.  They tell him that they are still waiting because no man has come to hire them.  They are still waiting at the last hour hoping that someone will come to hire them that they may work.

Our story is one of simple theme.  It is meant to bring home principles that even the simple man can understand.  Every man wants to work to earn wages that he may provide for himself and family.  It is the nature of man.  Idleness is not in man's nature.  He needs something to do to occupy his time.  In past times man worked on the land, planting, growing, and harvesting his food.  He built his home, cared for his livestock, and provided warmth to his home.  He hunted for his food in the forest and sought companionship for himself with a mate.  This is the nature of man, the nature of his need to be productive.  So when they hoped for work in the market place, the house-holder, "He said to them, 'Go you also into the vineyard.' " 

So the house-holder wants all that seek work to find work.  He wants all who hope to not be idle to have work.  The house-holder has need of harvesters and seeks to hire all who want to work.  This is what we can draw from this parable so far.  For we have only talked about working and finding workers who hope to work.  There are those who seek to work and there are those who seek to be idle.  There are those who hope for employment and those who do not.  And then there are those who are work motivated and need no man to hire them but are themselves self hired.  They are the ones who know that there is a harvest and that there is need for workers.

Do you know about the harvest?  Are you one of the harvesters or just an idler?  There is work to be done.  There is need for workers.  The rewards are great.  The benefits are plentiful.  Do you have the skills?  Are you willing to work?  There are many positions that are in need of filling.  All you need is an open heart and a desire to be counseled.  It does not matter the day or the time, the need is ever present.  It does not matter if you are young or old, rich or poor, black or white, Asian or Latino.  All are called to be witnesses to the harvest that is in need of workers.

What does it take?  It only takes your willingness to follow Christ and your willingness to be a witness to his love.  Everyday you may be called upon to let him in.  Everyday you may be called upon to show his love.  Everyday you may be called upon to lend a hand, to give a word, to spare a dime, to give some food, to see beyond what may be apparent externally but to see what is internal that belongs to him.  For we are all created in his image.  We are all spiritual beings and not physical.  And within the external body is the spirit and life of God our Father.  And that is what we are called to love, to see, to believe, to know that we are all alike. 

We are not Black, or White, or Jew, or Gentile, or Asian, or Latino or any race, or color or religion.  We are all spiritual beings created in his image and given life, a second chance, through the love and sacrifice of Christ Jesus our Savior.  So if we can reflect what is within us outward, others can see and experience that which is within us.  Then we become workers for the vineyard, attracting others and showing them the way to eternal life given us by Christ our savior through God our Father.  For he is the one true ever living God.  And he is our creator and our Father, and our provider, and our protector.  Open the door to your heart and let him in.  Seek that which is within you and know the truth of who you are in him.  The light of life will shine forth and others will see that which is within you.  Be the worker!

Read the sign of the times! Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ. Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself. Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding. Read it for knowledge. Read it for faith. Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you. Christ seeks to know you.  Open the door and let him in.

St Matthew, Chapter 15,verse: 35-37a, Jesus feeds four thousand: All were satisfied.

Our paragraph topic is:  ( Jesus feeds four thousand) Part 1.

They were all in a desert place where there was not much to eat.  And the people came to him in the desert.  They came from the villages, from the towns, from districts far away.  They came into this desert place because the word came to them and told them about the one they heard people talking about.  The word told them that they would be healed.  The word told them that they would see.  The word told them that they would walk.  The word was God and God was with the people.

And they came to him that they would be filled, that they would be healed, that they would know the truth of who he was.  And Christ had compassion on the crowd.  He felt their pain.  He felt their sorrow.  He felt their love.  He knew their confusion, their loss, their fears, their hopes, and their dreams.  And he wanted to feed them.  He wanted to fill them.  He wanted to love them.  He wanted to guide them through the tricks and traps that they would face in the world.  For they had been transformed by Christ and now they would face a new world with all of its temptations.  And Christ had compassion on the crowd.  But time had not been fulfilled and the sacrifice had not been given and the absolution was not complete.

So he fed the crowds.  He gave them physical food for their bodies.  He gave them fish and bread that they would not faint on their return to their villages and towns.   And he bade the crowd recline on the ground.   Then taking the seven loaves and the fishes, he gave thanks, broke them and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowd.  And they all ate and were satisfied.     

How do you see a miracle?  If you watch closely will you see it happening?  If it happens before your eyes will you know that it is?  How did the lame walk?  How did the blind see?  How did the deaf hear?  How did the loaves multiply?  Christ blessed the fish and the loaves and gave them to the disciples to give to the people.  And they eat and were satisfied.  But how did it happen?  We are spiritual beings living in a physical world.  Do we recognize who we are?  Do we know that we are spiritual beings in a physical shell?  Are we aware of our spiritual nature?

Christ told us in the New Testament how to see ourselves.  He told us how we should look.  He gave us the words that indicate how we are to know who we are.  Yet, we live in a physical world not knowing that we are spiritual beings.  We strive for physical things not knowing that they are not eternal.  And we are unaware of the spiritual things that are eternal, everlasting, God given.  And we ask God  to help us in this physical world not knowing who we are.  Christ wanted to feed the crowd because he had compassion.  He wanted to give to them eternal food that would sustain them in this world, but the time was not fulfilled, the sacrifice was not given, and the absolution not complete.

Today, the sacrifice has been given, the time has been fulfilled, and the absolution is complete.  We are reborn in his image that we may share in eternal life with Christ.  But how can we share in something that we do not know?  How can we share in something that is hidden from us unless we seek it, find it, and know it to be true.  The miracle awaits those who seek it.  The knowledge awaits those who search for it.  The treasure is buried for those who want to find it.  And when it is found one will sell all to own it.  For Christ has completed the miracle.  The food awaits us.  Come!  Recline and partake of the the spiritual food that will awaken the spiritual life in you. 

Come! Know the truth of who you are. Read the Highlighted New Testament Bible and lift the scales from your eyes that you may see, that you may know, that you may find the truth of who you are in Christ.   Read it as though you would read a good book, from cover to cover, and see for yourself.   Do not study it in parts reading one passage and then skipping to another, but read it for understanding.   Read it for knowledge.   Read it for faith.   Read it that your eyes may be opened, that your ears may hear, that your heart may be filled with the light of Christ. The Holy Spirit awaits you.   Christ seeks to know you.  Open the door and let him in!

St Matthew, Chapter 11, verses: 16 - 17, This Generation.

Our paragraph topic is:  (The inconsistency of the Jews) Part 1. 

Christ has just finished telling the crowd about the greatness of John the Baptist.  He called to the crowd saying,  "He who has ears to hear, let him hear. "   For he told the crowd that if they can receive it, John the Baptist was Elias who was to come.  It was written in the scriptures that Elias would come again before the Messiah.  And now Christ is reminding the crowd of what was written has come to pass.  But he stops there to talk about the people of this generation.

He says,  "But to what shall I liken this generation?"   He asked, what can he compare this generation to that the people might understand.  The scriptures have spoken of this time.  John came and spoke of this time, but the people do not believe.  They do not hear, they do not read, they do not believe.  They are worse than unbelievers, because in the face of all the evidence they still do not believe what is right before their eyes.  You see, this is a selfish generation.  They want things to happen their way.  And if it does not come, the way that they expect, then they will not turn, they will not understand, they will not see, they will not comprehend, and they will not believe.

Christ compared them to children playing in the market who want everything to follow their plan. Christ says,  "It is like children sitting in the market place, who call to their companions, and say, 'We have piped to you, and you have not danced; we have sung dirges, and you have not mourned.' "   This generation is selfish.  They want everything to go according to their plans.  They have played songs and no one has danced.  They have sung dirges and no one has come forth to play funeral with them.  They want everyone to dance their tune and sing to their tribulations.

Will we be the same generation when Christ returns?  For different from those years, we live in a selfish environment.  Everything is about us.  We want more money for us.  We want more cars for us.  We want more house for us.  We want more clothes for us.  We want everything for us and do not consider others.  We want to succeed in this world and to succeed, the world tells us that we have to look out for number one, ourselves. 

For who is going to provide for us if we do not provide for ourselves.  We are raised on the principle that makes us believe that we must be selfish.  It is a cold world out there and if you do not look out for yourself no one else will.  You will be used and abused by the world if you do not provide for yourself, is the principle that we believe.  Yet Christ came and died for all, because we could not save ourselves. 

Are you a selfish person?  Do you have to have things your way?  Must the world dance for you and cry for you when you want it to?  Come, let us not be of that generation that is selfish.  Let us turn our hearts to God and love each other as we love ourselves.  Let us open our minds and open our hearts and open our eyes to see that we are all children of God, created in his image no matter what color, what shape, what hair, what eyes, what background, what income, what ever we use to categorize ourselves that we may segregate and make comparisons.  God is our father and we are his children.  We are all his creations, children of light.  So let us love one another as he loves us.  We are spiritual beings in a physical body that is dying before our eyes.  What we see before us is not who we are, and who we are today is not who we will be in heaven.  Put off the cloak of selfishness and put on the cloak of love and you will understand who you really are.