Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: "Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?" They answered him, "He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times." Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes? Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit."
In Genesis we find God entrusting creation to man - His greatest obra maestra. Man was made the steward of God here on earth. In the same way, the landowner in the parable entrusts the care of his vineyard to some tenants, which prove to be unworthy of the trust given them. They violate the virtue of justice, which dictates giving to our fellow man what they deserve. They are found useless and even destructive, therefore, they must be replaced with more loyal tenants.
We too, are entrusted by God with a mission here on earth. We all have a common mission, and that is to help each other achieve union with God - for that is the ultimate purpose of our being. We also have unique missions as unique individuals. This mission given us by God can be discerned through personal reflection. God gives us hints so we may easily find out our mission. He gives us talents and a set of unique qualities that we can use as bases for knowing our mission. It's like when a maid is given a spatula and cooking materials, it probably means that her master would like her to cook for the family. Our talents and qualities are the tools which God gives in order for us to complete our mission. We will never be truly happy if we do not fulfill our missions. If we follow our own will and reject God's, loneliness is ours.
We should give God what is due Him, and that is our obedience. We ought to obey Him since He is our Creator and because His will is also for our own good. His will is for us to be saved and be eternally happy with Him. We, as His stewards are given missions, the success of which could be determined by manifestations or fruits. If our mission does not bear fruit, then we are worthless. The Kingdom of God demands these fruits from us for it is "by our fruits that they shall know us" as children of God, as disciples of Christ.
If we really are firmly rooted in Christ, if we really are branches attached to the vine, where are our fruits? Are they good fruits? Can these fruits be given as a worthy offering to God?
We too, are entrusted by God with a mission here on earth. We all have a common mission, and that is to help each other achieve union with God - for that is the ultimate purpose of our being. We also have unique missions as unique individuals. This mission given us by God can be discerned through personal reflection. God gives us hints so we may easily find out our mission. He gives us talents and a set of unique qualities that we can use as bases for knowing our mission. It's like when a maid is given a spatula and cooking materials, it probably means that her master would like her to cook for the family. Our talents and qualities are the tools which God gives in order for us to complete our mission. We will never be truly happy if we do not fulfill our missions. If we follow our own will and reject God's, loneliness is ours.
We should give God what is due Him, and that is our obedience. We ought to obey Him since He is our Creator and because His will is also for our own good. His will is for us to be saved and be eternally happy with Him. We, as His stewards are given missions, the success of which could be determined by manifestations or fruits. If our mission does not bear fruit, then we are worthless. The Kingdom of God demands these fruits from us for it is "by our fruits that they shall know us" as children of God, as disciples of Christ.
If we really are firmly rooted in Christ, if we really are branches attached to the vine, where are our fruits? Are they good fruits? Can these fruits be given as a worthy offering to God?
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