http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2010/08/21/parable-of-the-evil-husbandmen-in-the-vineyard-13th-sunday-after-pentecost-mat-2133-44-text-homily/ McKinney TX Homilies, scripture commentary, spiritual reflections Wed, 05 Jun 2013 12:35:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/2010/08/21/parable-of-the-evil-husbandmen-in-the-vineyard-13th-sunday-after-pentecost-mat-2133-44-text-homily/comment-page-1/#comment-4456 Deborah Sat, 21 Aug 2010 15:54:22 +0000 http://orthodox.net/redeemingthetime/?p=2444#comment-4456 I am sure these evil husbandmen had perfectly good reasons in their minds for doing what they did.  Although we are not given that part of the story in scripture, in real life, thieves and murderers almost always justify their deeds.  They rationalize their deeds as either being necessary for survival or simply taking what they feel is owed to them from people they feel do not deserve what they have.  In their minds, they are simply treating others as they deserve.  Or it may simply be that they feel that the rule of life is that whatever they can take is theirs, whatever they can get away with is justified.  Whatever it is, few people do wrong without attempting at some level to make some excuse for their deeds.   I am no exception.  My excuse has been that I did not recognize the servants the Master sent.  They were rude to me or did not behave as I expected so I decided that I was justified in my treatment of them.  And with the Master so far away it is easy to start thinking of the Vineyard as my own and that I am simply defending my property from those who would take away the hard earned fruits of <em>my</em> labors.   Even if I am taking care of the Vineyard as instructed, obeying all of the Master's instructions for the proper care and maintenance of the crops, if I treat those whom the Master sends to me to collect His due, the fruits of righteousness and love, with contempt and abuse (whether overtly or in the more subtle manner of indifference, neglect, jealousy, lust, or bitterness), I am no different than these evil men.   <em>Father, Bless and Pray for, </em>   Deborah I am sure these evil husbandmen had perfectly good reasons in their minds for doing what they did.  Although we are not given that part of the story in scripture, in real life, thieves and murderers almost always justify their deeds.  They rationalize their deeds as either being necessary for survival or simply taking what they feel is owed to them from people they feel do not deserve what they have.  In their minds, they are simply treating others as they deserve.  Or it may simply be that they feel that the rule of life is that whatever they can take is theirs, whatever they can get away with is justified.  Whatever it is, few people do wrong without attempting at some level to make some excuse for their deeds.
 
I am no exception.  My excuse has been that I did not recognize the servants the Master sent.  They were rude to me or did not behave as I expected so I decided that I was justified in my treatment of them.  And with the Master so far away it is easy to start thinking of the Vineyard as my own and that I am simply defending my property from those who would take away the hard earned fruits of my labors.
 
Even if I am taking care of the Vineyard as instructed, obeying all of the Master's instructions for the proper care and maintenance of the crops, if I treat those whom the Master sends to me to collect His due, the fruits of righteousness and love, with contempt and abuse (whether overtly or in the more subtle manner of indifference, neglect, jealousy, lust, or bitterness), I am no different than these evil men.
 
Father, Bless and Pray for,

 
Deborah

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