Power, vs. Powerlessness.  Consider the military commander in Jesus’ time: ranks of Roman soldiers could line up and destroy what stood before them, and often, they took just such actions. They had physical power, they had frightening power, and yet they could not stop the powerlessness of the infant, born poorly in a manger in Bethlehem, from changing the world then, and even now, two-thousand years later.

Consider also the power of a story. We often get distracted when we are studying, when we are trying to learn something complex, and yet we quickly engage with a story.  We listen to the speaker; when the speaker is telling a story, you will see that even they set down their notes. When they are telling their own story, they don’t need notes; instead their passion informs every word they share, with excitement at the climax, and with whispers at the gentlest times.

Jesus didn’t express power with physical might, but with passion in what He came to teach.  It was His Story, His own life being presented. And He taught with stories, with parables. Why? Because His listeners remembered them, and isn’t that the real measure of “teaching,” that what you say is remembered?

Today’s Gospel parable is a story of justice and mercy, and yet when first heard, it seems a story about injustice. Surely those who worked harder and longer should receive a greater reward, a greater payment for their efforts.

Except for Jesus, Whose reward is beyond all cost. No one can purchase or deserve Eternal Life; our humanity is that of a creature, burdened by Original sin, so we simply don’t live perfect lives.  Why should we expect the perfection of Eternity with the Perfect Love of Jesus?

We should expect it because of today’s parable. Those who turned to Jesus first, along with those who turn to Him last each earn an undeserved promise of salvation.  Only God can make that offer, and only God, through His Only Begotten Son could have purchased that for us.

That, my friends, is Our Story. It was written for us by our perfectly loving God, and only He could make the promise which Jesus fulfilled. Jesus told His story and made it Our Story; He told the story of perfect love with our creation, our pilgrim life on earth as His Creatures.

Now, He asks us to simply repeat the story we know in our hearts with our daily lives. When you live Your Life’s Story, you witness His Love Story.