Proper 22 A 2005 Isaiah 5:1-7 Psalm 80:7-14 Philippians 3:14-21 Matthew 21:33-43 October 2, 2005 The Rev. J. Brian Ponder Church of the Resurrection, Starkville, Mississippi In the Name of God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen. Right after my diaconal ordination a little over a year ago, I received a package in the mail from a dear friend who was unable to attend the service. Along with a heartfelt note, she included a small book entitled ‘Postle Jack Tales. It’s a book by her pastor and is a collection of stories steeped in the Appalachian folktale tradition—the Jack tale tradition to be exact—which in older days often had an ethical, moral and religious teaching intertwined with stories including much local color. Historically they were a little dark. This “‘Postle Jack” collection, though, is much lighter. Its stories are about an ordinary person struggling to live a moral and ethical life. The book is an attempt to honor the old Appalachian tradition by retelling some classic Gospel parables and other scripture stories, making them relevant in a new way. To be honest, I had my reservations at first, … not for long, though. You know, we Episcopalians are a little wary of new things … things non-traditional, reinterpreted, “newfangled” even. I’d like to share one of the stories with you today. … And, you’ll have to forgive my haphazard attempt at Appalachian tongue. It’s not Janis Joplin … but it is a new interpretation. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. … Then he leased it to tenants and went away to another country. Matthew 21:33 (NRSV) “’Postle Jack at Trouble Creek” [The above chapter was read to the congregation.] What are we being called to share today? … in this place? … to the people next to us? … to the people outside our guarded walls? … as people of faith … as people of God … as the Church? Who or what is it we see from afar … wary to let enter in? … from our lofty perches or watchtowers? … from whom or from what we feel we have nothing to gain? In so doing, who or what is it that we’re really locking out? What are we withholding from our God? … hoarding from our neighbor? … stockpiling for ourselves? … simply not sharing? How is it that we may be denying our own God-given, God-blessed fruits of the Spirit … the fruits of God’s own hand? … Jesus says … The kingdom of God belongs to those who produce the fruits of the kingdom. … Just what is it that we are tending in our vineyards?   i Barden, John H. ‘Postle Jack Tales. Gospel Images in New Appalachian Folktales. Spokane, WA: KiwE Publishing, 2004. © 2004 by John H. Barden. ISBN: 1-931195-66-8. ii Ibid. Pages 13-18.