Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20, Psalm 80:7-15 and Matthew 21:33-46
God gave ten standards to the people living on this earth. They are like guidebooks for our lives. The first four commandments define the relationship between God and humans. God commands us to serve the Creator with a sincere heart and to keep the Sabbath. The remaining six commandments are the lessons that humans must observe in their lives. They guide us to honour our parents, not to murder, not to steal, not to bear false witness, and not to commit sexual violence. These ten commandments are timeless lessons that remain valid today, thousands of years later. Conversely, why did God go out of His way to give these ten commandments to humans? It is very simple. Because the Creator knew humans would not keep those commandments well. Today, many people are needed to live faithfully and with a sincere heart. It is difficult even to mention all the numerous wars waged by the leaders of countries that claimed to be Christian nations, while disregarding the commandment not to kill.
I want to introduce you to a shameful part of my country’s history. Originally, during Japanese colonial rule in the early 20th century, the church grew most in the Pyongyang region of North Korea. However, when Japan was defeated in World War II and Korea gained independence, turmoil followed. At the time, the Soviet Union wanted to establish a communist state in the North, while the United States and the West wanted to maintain a democratic state in at least South Korea. Consequently, Japanese influence persisted in South Korea, and those who collaborated with Japan became the new power holders, harassing those who had striven for independence. Also, at that time, many Christians were persecuted by communists in North Korea and came down to South Korea. They were separated from their families and driven out, leaving their property behind in North Korea. Filled with hostility toward communism, they suppressed people with socialist or leftist ideologies. So, around the time of the Korean War, there was an incident in which right-wing Christians massacred about 30,000 people. It was 10% of the population living on Jeju Island, a large island in southern Korea. Even among the victims, there was rampant madness of violence and retaliatory massacres, even though some were not socialists. And this violence was encouraged by the pastor of the largest Presbyterian church in Seoul at the time, and the young people of that church actively participated in it. I share this shameful history with you because of human imperfection. Humans make mistakes, and throughout history, we must live wisely today. God has appointed us Christians as stewards of this era. Through the Ten Commandments, we can learn to judge right from wrong, protect the weak, not covet our neighbour’s property, and not bear false witness. Through this, we will experience the Kingdom of God, just as the people of Israel were transferred from the land of slavery to the land the Lord is giving them.
The second lesson is how to live as a people who produce fruit. Jesus explains the Kingdom of God through the parable of the vineyard. It means that the one who cultivates the entrusted vineyard well, bears abundant fruit, and offers a share of the crop to the vineyard owner will receive an opportunity. Conversely, those who harbour evil greed and covet only the desire to possess the vineyard, while failing to fulfill their rightful duties, are deprived even of the right to work. Furthermore, they even receive severe punishment. They lose their lives, and even the Kingdom of God is taken away.
Beloved, this message poses a very daunting challenge even to me as a pastor. The Knox church God entrusted to me is a vineyard. At the same time, Red Deer, a little more broadly Alberta, even more broadly Canada and the world are the vineyard. I have a responsibility to make this a fruitful place, including the church. I have been called to create a dynamic community where life is revived. I want to become a servant praised by the Lord, but I am still just an inadequate servant. However, by relying on God’s mercy and grace, which continue to give us opportunities, we can start again. Today, as we celebrate World Communion Sunday, we will remember and meditate on Jesus, the Word made flesh. Let us live as good and faithful servants of God, just like Jesus, who gave everything to us, symbolizing the bread of life and His precious blood as wine. The Kingdom of God will be yours. Amen.