There is such a temptation at this time of year to dress up the message in the glitz and the glamour, the tinsel and the trappings that it gets dumbed-down, lost even. We are all called to go out and share the Good News as the angels did to the Shepherds – ‘This very day in David's town your Saviour was born - Christ the Lord!’ Luke 2.11 - to tell the world that Jesus is born. Who are you going to tell?

35 Watch, then, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming - it might be in the evening or at midnight or before dawn or at sunrise. 36 If he comes suddenly, he must not find you asleep. 37 What I say to you, then, I say to all: Watch!” Mark 13.35-37

Jesus tells a story of how the Son of Man will separate his people into two groups: one group is welcomed into his kingdom, the other turned away. And the deciding factor – what puts us in one group rather than the other – is how we treat other people. Those welcomed into the kingdom of heaven are those who cared for the hungry, the poor, the sick and the stranger. Those who didn’t do these things are not welcomed in.

All of us I'm sure wish we were never sad but we are at times. But in our sadness we can hold onto the fact that we can put our hope in the Lord. His love for us is sure and strong.

Are we ready for Jesus return? Do we really believe that he is going to return? Are we living our lives doing what Jesus wants. Could we, say if I knew Jesus was coming back tomorrow I could carry on doing what I had all ready planned.

Jesus’ listeners may well still be feeling battered by the parable of the wicked tenants but he continues to reinforce the point, telling this parable to explain what the Kingdom of heaven is like.

‘You show your care for the land by sending rain; you make it rich and fertile. You fill the streams with water; you provide the earth with crops.’ Psalm 65.9

Today’s parable of the two sons helps us to understand why Jesus’ teachings would not make him popular and would eventually lead to arrest and execution.

Jesus has come to the Temple to confront a religious hierarchy that favours ‘rules’ over people. The choice in the parable is not between good and bad but rather about following through with our intentions. We are to walk the walk, not just talk the talk.

Jesus tells this parable of the workers in the vineyard to teach us something about God and his new kingdom

‘Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, "Lord, if my brother keeps on sinning against me, how many times do I have to forgive him?’ Matthew 18.21.