Fr. Samuel Keyes

Matthew’s parable of the two sons happens on Tuesday of Holy Week. Earlier in this same chapter, Jesus entered Jerusalem, acclaimed by the crowds. But the week continues with a series of direct confrontations with the temple authorities and Pharisees. Jesus cleanses the temple, turning over the tables of the moneychangers. The priests and scribes, increasingly hostile, confront him with a question of authority: by what authority does he do and say these things? This parable comes immediately...

Today’s parable of the laborers in the vineyard gives us a compelling and yet disorienting vision of the kingdom of God. As Fr. Simeon puts it, “The parable is a catechesis meant to transform the natural man and his pagan values and mentality into a Christian with the generous mind and redeeming Heart of Christ, that is, into a being capable of bearing the full joy and glory of a kingdom where every breath is an act of love.”[1] This is one of those gospel passages that, as a preacher,...

We can do no better than our collect for the day (14th Sunday after Trinity) at tying together the various themes from our readings: ALMIGHTY and everlasting God: give unto us the increase of faith, hope, and charity; and, that we may obtain that which thou dost promise, make us to love that which thou dost command… In 1549 Cranmer translated that collect from the Sarum books, which in turn received it from a much older Roman tradition. In any case it implies something which we all know...