My dear friends, Today's readings seem to be worlds apart. We have a talking-tree fable from the Old Testament, a royal psalm of praise,...
My dear friends,
Today's readings seem to be worlds apart. We have a talking-tree fable from the Old Testament, a royal psalm of praise, and a controversial parable from Jesus about a strangely generous boss. But woven through them is a profound message for us, and it can be captured in three words that all start with the letter 'P': Purpose, Power, and Provision.
Purpose
First, let's look at Purpose. In our first reading from the Book of Judges, we hear Jotham's fable. The trees want a king, a leader. They go to the olive tree, the fig tree, and the vine. What’s fascinating is their response. The olive tree asks, "Should I stop producing my rich oil... to go and wave over the trees?" The fig tree and the vine say something similar.
They all understood their God-given purpose. Their value wasn't in having a title, in being "in charge," or in "waving over others." Their value was in what they were created to produce: oil that honors God and people, sweet fruit, and joyful wine. They were content and fulfilled in their purpose.
Then the trees turn to the bramble—a thorny, useless bush. It produces nothing of value. And what does the bramble say? "Sure, I'll be your king!" The one with no real purpose is the one who eagerly grasps for power. It’s a powerful warning for us. Do we find our identity in our God-given purpose—to love, to serve, to create, to be a good parent, a faithful friend, a compassionate worker? Or are we tempted to be like the bramble, chasing titles and positions while producing nothing but thorns?
Power
This leads us to our second word: Power. The bramble sought power for its own sake. Its rule came with a threat: "If not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon." This is worldly power. It’s self-serving, insecure, and ultimately destructive.
But the Psalm gives us a completely different vision of power. The king rejoices not in his own strength, but in the Lord's strength. His crown, his victory, his glory—it’s all a gift from God. True, righteous power isn't seized; it's received. It's a power that comes from being aligned with God's will, not our own ambition. It's the power to build up, not to devour.
Provision
Finally, and most strikingly, we come to the Gospel and the word Provision. The parable of the laborers in the vineyard is a story about God's economy, which looks nothing like ours. A landowner hires people throughout the day, yet at the end, he pays everyone the same full day's wage.
Those who worked all day are angry. "It's not fair!" they cry. And by human logic, they're right. But the landowner reveals the heart of God. His power isn't used to enforce a contract but to show radical generosity. He says, "Are you envious because I am generous?"
His goal wasn't just to get a job done; it was to provide for every single person who answered his call. The man hired at five o'clock needed to feed his family just as much as the man who started at dawn. The landowner's generous provision completely upends our human ideas of earning, deserving, and fairness. It’s a powerful reminder that God's grace is not a wage we earn; it is a gift He freely gives. We are all the workers hired at the eleventh hour, receiving a grace we could never deserve.
So today, let's reflect on these three words. Let’s ask God to help us find joy in our purpose, like the olive tree and the vine. Let’s pray that any power or influence we have is used for His glory, not our own. And above all, let’s rest in the radical, "unfair," and beautiful truth of His divine provision, trusting that His generosity is more than enough for us all. Amen.
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