Sunday Gospel Reflection
The kingdom taken from the unrepentant
Introduction:
Fertilizing, weeding and watering the garden was a nuisance I preferred to leave to others. However as a youngster it was a responsibility thrust on me and unwillingly carried out with diligence, if not with a positive attitude. When guests visited, my Dad would take them down to show them his garden and share some of his vegetables with them. These occasions were met with both satisfaction and disappoint-ment by me. Satisfaction because my work had resulted in real fruitfulness, disappointment because my Dad received the glory.
The parable in this week's Gospel reading deals with expectations, and with disappointments. It implies that God had expectations for the people of Israel, and that Israel's response was disappointing. In this parable the landowner's legitimate expectations for his tenant farmers were thwarted, even when he sent his son to see that they were carried out. Not unlike the treatment our Lord received, they responded with hostility resulting in the violent death of the house-holder's son. In Jesus' case the rejection of His rightful claim as Lord, first took subtle forms; behind the back conversations against him, judgementalism, and foot-dragging reticence to follow and respond to him. Eventually this hostility burst forth into overt opposition, con-spiracy, and murder.
Does God have expectations for you? Most of us today are
concerned with our own
expectations of others, and with avoiding being disappointed.
But perhaps we should expend our energies more fully on the opportunity we have to fulfill
our Lord's expectations. Will we be faithful stewards, tending the vineyards he has
entrusted to us? When we reject him, either
subtly by trying to avoid his claim on our lives, or overtly by resisting him, we come out
the loser by not fully sharing in his life. Perhaps there can be no fuller joy than to
hear Jesus', "Well done." As we labor in the vineyard he entrusts to us,
our heavenly Father wants to rejoice in the fruitfulness of our lives. He not only affirms
us but also shares with us his glory, even though
we know that it was he who worked and produced the results, and that we were only a
willing tool in his hand.
"Gardening is the first job that Adam was given in the garden of Eden; it is the symbol of what everybody's job is: shoveling manure to make the unfruitful fig tree (us) bloom. It will never bloom because of the manure, but God, touched by our persevering efforts and patient endurance, may make the thing blossom anyway-not because of our efforts and patience, but because of God's most tender love for us," from The Kingdom of God is Like. . . by Thomas Keating
Perhaps it is time for us to get our hands dirty tending the Lord's vineyard. When we do we will experience growth in our lives and see fruitfulness in the lives of
First Reading
Isaiah 5:1-7
1 Let me sing for my beloved a love song concerning his
vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.
2 He digged it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with
choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it;
and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.
3 And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge,
I pray you, between me and my vineyard.
4 What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not
done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?
5 And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard.
I will remove its hedge, and it shall be
devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.
6 I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and
briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain
upon it.
7 For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of
Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but
behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, a cry
Second Reading
Philippians 4:6-9
6 Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by
prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will
keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is
any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me,
do; and the God of peace will be with you.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 21:33-43
33 "Hear another parable. There was a householder who
planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a
tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country.
34 When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to
the tenants, to get his fruit;
35 and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed
another, and stoned another.
36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they
did the same to them.
37 Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, `They will
respect my son.'
38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves,
`This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.'
39 And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and
killed him.
40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will
he do to those tenants?"
41 They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a
miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in
their seasons."
42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the
scriptures: `The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner;
this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?
43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away
from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it."
Meditation
What does Jesus' parable about an absentee landlord and his tenants say to us today? The hills of Galilee were lined with numerous vineyards, and it was quite common for the owners to let out their estates to tenants. Many did it for the sole purpose of collecting rent. Why did Jesus' story about wicked tenants cause offense to the scribes and Pharisees? It contained both a prophetic message and a warning. Isaiah had spoken of the house of Israel as "the vineyard of the Lord" (Isaiah 5:7). Jesus' listeners would likely understand this parable as referring to God's dealing with a stubborn and rebellious people. This parable speaks to us today as well. It richly conveys some important truths about God and the way he deals with his people. First, it tells us of God's generosity and trust. The vineyard is well equipped with everything the tenants need. The owner went away and left the vineyard in the hands of the tenants. God, likewise trusts us enough to give us freedom to run life as we choose. This parable also tells us of God's patience and justice. Not once, but many times he forgives the tenants their debts. But while the tenants take advantage of the owner's patience, his judgment and justice prevail in the end. Jesus foretold both his death and his ultimate triumph. He knew he would be rejected and be killed, but he also knew that would not be the end. After rejection would come glory -- the glory of resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father. The Lord blesses his people today with the gift of his kingdom. And he promises that we will bear much fruit if we abide in him (see John 15:1-11). He entrusts his gifts and grace to each of us and he gives us work to do in his vineyard - the body of Christ. He promises that our labor will not be in vain if we persevere with faith to the end (see 1 Cor. 15:58). We can expect trials and even persecution. But in the end we will see triumph. Do you labor for the Lord with joyful hope and with confidence in his victory?
Reflections:
· Please re-read the phrase(s)/sentence(s) that
move(s)/touche(s) you.
What inner message of the heart is the Spirit
whispering to you this week?
. Hear another parable. There was a householder who planted
a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and
let it out to tenants, and went into another country. (Matthew 21:33)
-----What is the vineyard that God has entrusted
to you?
. When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his
servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; and the tenants took his servants and
beat one, killed another, and stoned another. (Matthew 21:34-35)
----How do I treat the prophets and the Son of
God?
. Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be
taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it." (Matthew
21:43)
-----Has the Lord given me a part of the
vineyard? What can I do to produce fruits in that part? Do I bear fruits for the Lord?
What fruits do I bear?
. Share one experience in which you create a few opportunities so that your children or loved ones know that you care for them even though they have caused some uneasy feelings for you and the whole family.
To live His Word this week:
. Spend a couple of minutes each day to examine your conscience .
. Do not show some anger toward pedestrians that make you stop your car because they cross the street illegally.
For Youngsters:
. Ask your parents how you can help them around the house.
Prayer
and insults which you have borne for us. O most merciful redeemer, friend, and brother, may we know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, for you own sake. (prayer of St. Richard of Chichester, 13th century)