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When God calls you to work in the vineyard, how do you respond? In this episode, Friedrich Wasmann’s A Vineyard at Merano and Jesus’ parable of the two children challenge us to reflect on our willingness to follow through. Join Rev. Rob McPherson in a prayerful exploration of calling, commitment, and courage.

Matthew 21:28-31a

In this episode of Art and Prayer, Rev. Rob McPherson invites viewers into a prayerful encounter with Friedrich Wasmann’s A Vineyard at Merano. This serene rural landscape, featuring a vineyard beside a crucifix, opens a window into a world where work, faith, and nature are intertwined.

Art historian Timothy Verdon describes the painting as a reflection of 19th-century Romanticism, evoking nostalgia for a simpler, more peaceful way of life when prayer and labor felt naturally connected. Against the backdrop of social and political upheaval, the painting suggests a longing to reclaim a rhythm where the beauty of creation and the mystery of Christ’s suffering come together.

The episode centers on Jesus’ parable from Matthew 21:28-31, where two children respond differently to their father’s invitation to work in the vineyard. Rev. Rob encourages viewers to reflect on their own responses to God’s call: Are they like the child who initially refuses but then obeys? Or like the one who promises but does not follow through? This story becomes a mirror for examining hesitation, commitment, and faithfulness in daily life.

As viewers gaze upon the vineyard scene, they are invited to imagine themselves as one of the children called to labor in the vineyard beneath the watchful presence of the crucifix. What might this vineyard represent in their own lives? What work is God inviting them to undertake? The painting and scripture together prompt honest reflection on both obstacles and opportunities for faithful service.

Throughout the prayerful time, viewers are encouraged to listen deeply—to God’s voice and to their own hearts—considering what first steps they might take to respond to God’s invitation. The vineyard becomes a symbol of both challenge and hope: hard work met with God’s sustaining grace and the promise of fruitful transformation.

Rev. Rob closes with a reflection on the realities of commitment, acknowledging that while the work may be difficult and the journey complex, God’s call remains steadfast. This episode invites participants to find courage to say yes to God’s call and to trust that their labor is part of a greater story of love and redemption.