More than a century ago Sydney Smith wrote in his Lady Holland’s Memoir these disturbing words: "Whoever wishes to imply the absence of everything agreeable and inviting, he calls it a sermon." How shall we escape that indictment today?

When we read verses seven through ten in today’s Gospel, it is somewhat shocking to read that Jesus said this in describing our relationship with God. We must remember, however, that like most parables, this is only a partial view of God. There is no mention here, for example, of God’s love and forgiveness.

These words of Jesus show a knowledgeable and realistic picture of rural Palestinian life in his day. Here he is neither commending nor condemning the master’s treatment of his servants. He is merely describing what was to them a well-known situation. …