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The Cathedral of Boston |
Father Usher stood before the congregation to preach the sermon of the vineyard. The vineyard owner had hired laborers to pick his grapes in the morning and heat of midday, but the work was not finished. The owner went out to the streets and searched for more laborers and the vineyard was harvested. Then, the owner payed all of his laborers the same wage. There was discontent amongst them. Those who had worked the longest from morning to evening wanted more wages, than those who had worked in the evening. But, the owner said, "This is my vineyard and you are only hired hands." Father Usher explained this was a parable for the New Covenant In Christ. The Jews had been given the Old Testament, but now refused to except Jesus and his New testament. He asked the congregation for questions. "Are you apposed to unions?" a man asked. "No. This is not about collective bargaining. This is a parable about the Christian Church." Fr. Usher answered. "Are you saying Christian's are communists?" the man continued. "No. Communism is a humanist philosophy. This Gospel describes the conflict between Jews and Christians." Fr. Usher answered more loudly. "Are you telling us that Jews want more money?" the man answered loudly. "No. This is not about money. Jesus tried to unite the Jews with gentiles under the New Covenant of Christianity." Fr. Usher's voice was strained. "What does picking grapes have to do with Church?" the man sniped back. "It is symbolic of the labor of faith. And now let us pray." Fr. Usher turned from his podium to walk to the alter. "That sounds like usery. You can't make people work harder for less pay." the man continued. Father Usher turned to the man, "Shad-up! And Pray!" "Well that was rude." the man said mockishly. Father Usher walked to the alter and whispered to an acolyte, "Get that bum out of here." The acolyte approached the man and quietly asked him to leave. A fight ensued. People moved away from the two fighting men. Father Usher reluctantly left the prayers at the alter and clobbered the man over the head with a candle stick. The acolyte and several alter boys carried the man out. "Let us pray for peace." Father Usher announced and returned to the Mass.+ =+= |