Ezekiel 34:1-11 / Matthew 20:1-16
"Streets of London" is a song written by Ralph McTell and released in the United Kingdom as a single in 1974. We are familiar with the chorus:
"So how can you tell me you're lonely, And say for you that the sun don't shine?
Let me take you by the hand and lead you through the streets of London
I'll show you something to make you change your mind"
The song was inspired by McTell's experiences busking and hitchhiking throughout Europe, especially in Paris and the individual stories are taken from the Parisians. McTell was originally going to call the song Streets of Paris. Eventually London was chosen because he realised he was singing about London.
The song contrasts the common problems of everyday people with those of the homeless, lonely, elderly, ignored and forgotten members of society.
The passage from the 1st reading may also be called the "Streets of Israel". The subject of that passage is about how the rulers of the country (shepherds of Israel) had neglected to take care of the common people and the prophet Ezekiel announced of their impending reckoning.
The gospel parable also had its setting in the streets - the streets of a market place where those looking for work were standing there to hire themselves out.
But it was a street of hope; it was a street that leads us to see the generosity of God.
As we go on our way, we will encounter those who are the homeless, lonely, elderly, ignored and forgotten members of our society.
May we be generous to them and show them some care so that they will still be able to believe that the God's love is still shining on them.