Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables. “A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watchtower; then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his share of the produce of the vineyard.  But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. And again he sent another slave to them; this one they beat over the head and insulted. Then he sent another, and that one they killed. And so it was with many others; some they beat, and others they killed.  He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, “They will respect my son.’  But those tenants said to one another, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’  So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others.  Have you not read this scripture: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;  this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes’?”  When they realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowd. So they left him and went away.   Mark 12:1-12

This parable is hard.  Shutting down our in person corporate worship is hard. Worrying about illness and toilet paper, the stock market, stocking up on food and wondering where and when the virus will pop up next is hard.  Checking in with coronavirus news, other clergy, and trying to learn how to use digital media is hard.

Jesus told a story about a man who planted a vineyard, put some capital into it and leased it to tenants.  Were the terms of the agreement with the tenants fair?  We don’t know.  The landowner sent a slave to collect the landowner’s share of the produce and the tenants beat him up.  And then the landowner sent another slave who was also assaulted. And a third slave. And then his son and they killed the son.

Get where this is going?  Jesus was sharing this story with the religious leaders and they realized it was critical of them and they wanted to arrest Jesus.

Sadly this parable has been used to condemn the Jews but that is wrong.  Aren’t we often the religious leaders/tenants thinking that if we are given a vineyard to manage that it is all ours?  Where is the injustice or duplicity in this story? My great grandmother spoke of stocking up on sugar in the midst of a shortage; she wanted to get it before the hoarders did.  Hum….   (And this morning I purchased a package of toilet paper when I normally would have waited a few more weeks.)

Where is the injustice in this story? The landowner put his capital and labor into the vineyard and the tenants killed his son. Where is the injustice in our own lives?

We are faced with choices.

Will we respond to the Coronavirus with love?  Will we care for oneanother with our open hearts? Will we share the food or toilet paper?  Will it feel like the church is shut down—absent when we most need it?  Or will the people of God at the Broad Bay Church rise to the challenge of protecting our community by washing our hands and physically distancing ourselves from one another while praying together, calling one another and strengthening our connections in this time?

I know that some of you are losing your most important outing of the week—gathering at Broad Bay where you will be greeted by name by people who may have known you for years.   I know that we will all miss the adventure of worship where the spirit surprises us with joy and wonder.  I know we will miss following the stations of the cross and hearing what Caroline Bond has to say.  I know that there is something so powerful about being reminded that “God loved you then, loves you now and will love you always.  God is always inviting us back to Godself.  We are forgiven.  Thanks be to God.” I can feel the power of inviting you to share your joys and concerns.

Our response to this crisis will have long term impacts on our church and our community.  Will we come together across the political and religious boundaries that divide us and love our neighbor and love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength? Will we reach out into the community with phone, letters, and offers to help and to be helped? Will we feel the love and power of God as reflected through this community of faith today and in the days to come?

We are not closing the church.  We are learning how to do church differently so that we can protect ourselves and our community.  If we can “flatten the curve” and slow the spread of COVID 19, we can help to save lives. Call a friend.  Pick up the church directory and contact someone you haven’t seen.  Have a long heart to heart talk or a short conversation about the weather.  And don’t forget to mail your contributions to Broad Bay Church at PO Box 161, Waldoboro, 04572.

My prayer and my belief is that the people of the Broad Bay Church will rise to the challenge.  God, Jesus, and the Spirit are with us. May we find joy and peace.

Please contact me at 207 691-1036 or broadbayucc@gmail.com.  Let me know how you are doing. Let me know what you need whether prayer or food.  Above all, let us love God and our neighbor.