THE VINEYARD PLOT
Can we have the
courage to put God's Kingdom first in our lives, in our world and in our
hearts?
What are they
thinking? How did the tenant farmers ever get it into their minds that they had
the right to keep the grapes and vineyards that they did not own? How could
they justify killing the owner's servants and then his son? To understand this
Sunday's parable, we need to consider the situation back in the time of Jesus.
Very often farms and vineyards were owned by foreigners or by wealthy
Israelites who lived a great distance away, usually in foreign countries. By
taking over the farm or vineyard for themselves, the workers would actually be
part of a rebellion against foreign powers or against Jewish people who had
given themselves over to foreign powers. In addition to this, a Jewish law read
that if a landowner died without an heir, his property would become the
possession of whoever grabbed it first; in the case of the parable, the
workers.
In our first
reading, the prophet Isaiah tells the people of Israel that they are the Lord's
vineyard. Like the vineyard in the parable, they, too, will be cut down because
they have not been faithful to God and borne good fruit. Similarly, the
vineyard we hear about in the Gospel is a source of turmoil because the workers
have been keeping the fruit for themselves. The workers here are the elders and
leaders of the Jewish people. They are more concerned with themselves than with
the work of God's Kingdom.
Jesus comes at a
very inopportune time for the Jewish leaders. Politically, these leaders are
winning concessions from Rome that will keep them in power. Financially, the
leaders of the people are afraid that they will be thrown into poverty if they
lose their position. To the leaders of the Jewish people, this is not a good
time for the Messiah to come. But the world was waiting. God was ready and the timing
was perfect.
The Roman Empire,
culture, economics and military conquest, made the timing perfect to spread the
Gospel. In fact, it is always a great time to spread the Gospel! The call to
follow Jesus comes when God chooses, not when we choose. This parable speaks to
us today as well. It richly conveys some important truths about God and the way
He deals with us. First, it tells us of God's generosity and trust. The
vineyard is well equipped with everything the tenants need. The owner goes away
and leaves the vineyard in the hands of the tenants. God, likewise, trusts us
enough to give us the freedom to live our lives as we choose. This parable also
tells us of God's patience, peace and justice.
Vintage time is
upon us. The owner of the vineyard is looking for the results of our labor. Are
we to beat Him off and go on with our lives as though we own the vineyard? Or
can we have the courage to put God's Kingdom first in our lives, in our world
and in our hearts? We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (cf
Phil: 4:13)!!!