27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Oct. 2, 2011 (Mt 21:33-43)
"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.
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.
Jesus' parable in the Gospel today presents salvation history. God is the owner and Israel, God's people, is the vineyard. The tenants to whom the owner entrusted the care of the vineyard are the leaders of the house of Israel. Throughout history, God has been gracious to Israel. He saved them from slavery and made a covenant with them. And He expected them to be faithful to Him. He sent them His prophets to remind them that they must be loyal to Him and that they must live fruitful lives and live up to the privilege of being God's people. But these prophets were killed and their message was ignored. But then happens the unimaginable. God sent His only Son to the vineyard to show us how to be fruitful and to give us an example of obedience to God.
In retelling the whole story, Jesus reminds Israel and their leaders, and even us, who are also God's people, that we have to do our part. The story is not only about God giving and giving because He loves mankind. God's love for us demands fruit - a faith response manifested not only in a firm belief and a deep devotion, but also in concrete actions.
This is what Jesus is telling us today. God planted in our hearts the seed of faith, and He entrusted us to nurture this and to let it grow and bear fruit. All that we have are from Him - our talents, our abilities, our lives and our very being. Therefore, we must make something of all His gifts so that we may offer Him back the fruits He deserves and expects from us.
Yes it is true that we belong to God. Yet, not only us, but everything we do and everything we produce are supposed to be God's. When we do not do what is right, we deprive God of the goodness we ought to have. If we sin, we offer to God an act that is not pleasing to Him. But when we obey His will, following the example of the Son whom He sent us, we allow ourselves to be totally His; our very being, our actions and the fruits that we shall bear become totally God's.
It is no easy task to produce a bountiful harvest. But God already did part of the work. All we need to do is to follow Jesus' example of obedience to God and to allow ourselves to receive and nurture the graces God gives us. In time, we will produce God's harvest. And we will be His loyal tenants and fruitful vineyard.
In retelling the whole story, Jesus reminds Israel and their leaders, and even us, who are also God's people, that we have to do our part. The story is not only about God giving and giving because He loves mankind. God's love for us demands fruit - a faith response manifested not only in a firm belief and a deep devotion, but also in concrete actions.
This is what Jesus is telling us today. God planted in our hearts the seed of faith, and He entrusted us to nurture this and to let it grow and bear fruit. All that we have are from Him - our talents, our abilities, our lives and our very being. Therefore, we must make something of all His gifts so that we may offer Him back the fruits He deserves and expects from us.
Yes it is true that we belong to God. Yet, not only us, but everything we do and everything we produce are supposed to be God's. When we do not do what is right, we deprive God of the goodness we ought to have. If we sin, we offer to God an act that is not pleasing to Him. But when we obey His will, following the example of the Son whom He sent us, we allow ourselves to be totally His; our very being, our actions and the fruits that we shall bear become totally God's.
It is no easy task to produce a bountiful harvest. But God already did part of the work. All we need to do is to follow Jesus' example of obedience to God and to allow ourselves to receive and nurture the graces God gives us. In time, we will produce God's harvest. And we will be His loyal tenants and fruitful vineyard.
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