Thou Shalt Not Talk More than You Act (Pent 18A)

 

Home.

Still in my pajamas, I would come downstairs in the morning. Pour a cup of coffee. Turn on the electric fireplace. Sit on my couch, feet tucked up. Read a simple devotion. Then reflect--- in the comfort and safety of home.  ...that was in April

Dressed for the day, I would come downstairs. Prepare breakfast. Open the front door and take a seat on the porch. Watch the neighbours and their dogs out for their daily walks. Have tea and pray ----from the comfort and safety of home.  ...that was in June

I have a hundred similar examples of enjoying spaces throughout the parsonage – throughout home. These spaces -and the idea of comfort and safety of home- was a foundation for my coping with COVID and attached protocols.   #stayhome – for me was okay, because home is a sanctuary.

I realize this is not the experience of all. I am blessed, privileged to have a generous landowner, landlord: you.

Tents appeared this week: one in the little park across Windsor St., one under a tree on the land where St. Pat’s high school was. In the news, buried in back pages of newspapers, or in snippets that slip by in online news feeds, one reads of: landlords seeking ways to remove tenants unable to pay their rent; tenants refusing to move or destroying rentals before being locked out; proposals made for affordable housing and cities choosing not to change bylaws or zoning restrictions to make it happen; deferred mortgage payment plans coming to an end; year end rent increases too much  for some as they struggle to find affordable living arrangements. All this is current news. And it is local news.

Today’s parable is about tenants, landlords, and property owners. This is our kind of language; this is the kind of world we live in. Some of us are tenants. Some of us are property owners. Some of us are landlords.

The parable of the tenants is the final parable in Jesus’ conversation explaining -answering the question put to him -by whose authority are you doing these things? Preaching, teaching, healing?  As all good parables do, these parables speak in many layers. The writer of Matthew, a Jew, pointedly speaks to his Jewish audience -his community- to question whether as a people in covenant with God are they taking the responsibility of the Law seriously?  Earlier we heard a portion of the Law read: what we call ‘the Ten Commandments.’  The Gospel points out that responsibility for adhering to the Law is vital for God’s kingdom to be present.

When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus’ parables, they realized that Jesus was speaking to them.

This morning I realize that Jesus is speaking to me – us.

Regularly, I hold in my heart and prayers, parishioners who make monthly choices between phone/heat/food, so that rent can be paid. The Pastor’s discretionary fund has been used to help with initial costs of those entering into a new lease agreement. I have stood as a buffer between  landlord and tenant – as tenants, who feel unsafe, prepare to move out. I have been a data collector and character witness for tenants taking legal action against slum landlords.  Many times I have talked with social workers and other agencies about finding adequate and affordable housing. I have sat in what seems like forgotten wings of hospitals with the elderly – waiting months in shared rooms for a nursing home bed. I hold in prayer a large segment of the congregation who are housed, so long as employment remains steady and no disability claims occur. I hold in prayer another large segment of the congregation who are housed, so long as rent does not increase beyond what one receives for pension.

This morning I realize that Jesus is speaking to me – us. What pricked my heart was the combination of hearing the Ten Commandments, the talk of landowner and tenants, along with the realization by the Pharisees that Jesus’ was speaking to them.

In the parable of the tenants, everything is a mess!  The landowner leaves the country – not involved, kind-of involved, derelict, a large company or conglomerate? The landowner has ‘slaves,’ perhaps more commonly in our time landlord, building supervisor, or property manager---who seem to have no relationship with the tenants and go only when told to.  Then there are the tenants who make their living by receiving a portion of the produce of the land; is the percentage their getting enough to more than just survive on? Do they trust they will receive their portion and not be cheated? Do the middle managers make their money by taking from the tenants – remember the landowner has gone away?

When I hear this parable from the perspective of  landowners/landlords/and tenants --- every snippet of housing issues that I have encountered through pastoral ministry ring loudly in my ears.

The chief priests and the Pharisees realized that Jesus was speaking to them.

The realization was that they – although purporting to adhere and keep the Law- were not loving God and loving neighbour. The rules and actions of this group of  1^st century religious sorts was a whole lot of talk; talk about Laws, showing off how ‘good’ one was, but, accomplishing nothing to further the covenant made with God; to love God and to love neighbour.

As it turns to election time – in HRM municipality, in the US, recent talk of election in Canada should the Throne speech not have been accepted; there was a whole lot of talk ... talk...

Humans are all very good at ‘talk.’ Maybe in hindsight, one of the Ten Commandments should have been, Thou shalt not talk more than you act.

I am guilty of ‘talking’ more about adequate and affordable housing than acting.

If I put the commandments into the ring with the parable of tenants/landlords/and landowner – I have sinned, by omission and lack of action through advocacy, partnering with housing agencies, pushing housing as an election issue.  

Consider –

Thou shalt not kill: how many have died in our country, particularly over the last 6 months of COVID, because they have had no place to shelter, to stay safe, to wash their hands?

Thou shalt not steal: how many have had the possibility of home stolen because of lack of work and systems that are inadequately positioned to help those who fall through the cracks? Or how many of us have withheld, hidden, or complained about paying taxes – stealing from the parts of systems that do help?

Thou shalt not bear false witness: how many people have we judged or down-talked , perhaps as lazy, or labeled those people, or believe it as their fault, that the jobs worked do not cover the cost of living and paying rent?

Thou shalt not covet: how many times have we coveted what others have – bigger houses, stable jobs; or puffed ourselves up because we are fine—we have a roof over our head, why don’t you?

Although I could go on – you get the idea.  I have – we as a people- have talked more than we have acted. The gospel today calls us to quit our quarreling in the vineyard! Get your act together, whether tenant, landlord, or landowner –and be actively focused on the welfare of all parties involved. Be responsible by generously applying the Ten Commandments – doing everything in abundance that loves God and loves neighbour.

A number of years ago, Lutherans and Anglicans, participated in a joint assembly.  On the business docket for each National church body was a promise to address homelessness and precarious housing, to advocate for adequate and affordable housing across this country. In our hearts we have a vision of the kingdom where all are fed and housed. COVID has reminded us of our propensity to talk more than act, to quarrel in the vineyard, rather than getting to work on the problem ---not loving God and loving neighbour- This problem -not taking our responsibility for living and applying the Law – has us in a place of disarray; where not all have a place to call home.

And in times like these – home – is everything; a small piece of heaven.

 

Heavenly One, who although homeless at your birth, Made your home with us on earth, and thus marked each with divine dignity: imbue us with your mercy /inspire us to offer each of your children a safe home, that we may live on earth/as they do in heaven.  Amen.  

 ---Ray Simpson, Founding Guardian (for 2013 Joint Assembly, ELCIC/ACC)