Guardians or plunderers?
Year A – 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Matthew 21:33-43: Listen to another parable!
This Sunday’s Gospel offers us the third parable centred on the vineyard. Like last Sunday’s parable of the two sons sent into the vineyard, it is addressed to the chief priests and the elders of the people, as well as to the Pharisees (see v. 45), who at first do not realise that it is directed precisely at them. The parable, known as that of the “murderous tenants”, is spoken in the Temple, has dramatic overtones, and prophetically foreshadows the tragic end of Jesus, “seized, thrown out of the vineyard and killed” outside the walls of Jerusalem.
1. God is a vine-grower
The symbolism of the vineyard as a representation of God’s people, Israel, is well known and is illuminated by the first reading from the prophet Isaiah (5:1-7). Jesus, however, tells the parable against the religious leaders who have taken possession of this vineyard, deaf to the appeals of the prophets (the “servants” in the parable) and now also to that of the Son, sent by God, the Owner of the vineyard.
The first Christian generations interpreted the parable allegorically: the first group of servants would represent the prophets and the second the apostles. Its conclusion, “The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit”, has sometimes been interpreted as an announcement of the replacement of Israel by the Church. However, this does not appear to be the primary meaning of the parable; rather, it is a strong rebuke to the religious authorities of his time and of every age.
2. We are God’s vineyard
It seems appropriate to dwell, first of all, on God’s loving care for his vineyard, which reflects his love for his people and for each one of us. “What more was there to do for my vineyard that I had not done?”, the Lord laments, seeing that instead of producing grapes, the vineyard has produced wild grapes (Isaiah 5:1-7).
That vineyard planted “on a fertile hill”, “dug over and cleared of stones” so that it might become good soil, and planted with “choice vines”, refers also to us. We too are part of that vineyard, branches united to the one who is the true vine (John 15). In our hearts he has built a “tower”, not the Tower of Babel, but that of the Pentecost of the Spirit. He has “dug a winepress”, which calls to mind the water of Baptism and the wine of the Eucharist. He has protected us within the enclosure of the Church…
This, then, is a good opportunity to acknowledge that “the Lord has done great things for us” (Psalm 125:3). But it is also an opportunity to ask ourselves about the fruit our Christian life is producing: grapes or wild grapes?
3. We are God’s vine-growers
God “went away” and, with extraordinary trust, entrusted his vineyard to us so that we might care for it. In other words, he entrusted his gifts to our responsibility: life and health, the earth and material goods, gifts and talents, faith and spiritual graces… Everything is to be managed wisely in the service of all.
The great temptation is to take possession of the “vineyard”, that is, of what God has entrusted to our care, using it as we please and for our exclusive benefit. Indeed, already in the account of the first sin we find the temptation to seize what does not belong to us. Our greed leads us to hoard goods, to ignore the needs of others and their rightful claims, to make people serve us, to trample on the poor and even to kill, as the parable so clearly illustrates.
Let us ask ourselves what our “vineyard” is and how we are managing it: as owners or as tenants? How do we exercise a role: as service or as power? The Lord will ask us: what have you done with my vineyard? How did you receive my messengers? How did you treat my Son? And let us remember that there are many ways of killing Christ!…
4. In the vineyard of creation: guardians or plunderers?
This responsibility does not concern only personal gifts; it also extends to the great “vineyard” that God has entrusted to humanity: creation. On 4 October 2023, Pope Francis published the apostolic exhortation Laudate Deum, a continuation of Laudato si’, in which he called everyone to responsibility in the stewardship of the earth’s goods. The consequences of an unrestrained, selfish and predatory use of nature are there for all to see.
We often adopt an attitude of near indifference or minimise the issue, as though it did not really concern us, perhaps because we are unwilling to change our way of life. At other times we shift responsibility onto others, especially politicians, who are often influenced by major economic interests, while failing to accept our own share of responsibility, perhaps considering it insignificant. Whether the earth becomes a paradise or a desert depends also on each one of us!
Faced with the inadequacy of the responses adopted by many governments and by the international community, Pope Francis therefore sounded a new alarm, urging action before it was too late. He reminded us that “the world that surrounds us is not an object of exploitation, unbridled use and unlimited ambition” (no. 25). “We have made impressive and astonishing technological advances, and we do not realise that at the same time we have become highly dangerous beings, capable of jeopardising the lives of many beings and our own survival” (no. 28).
And the Pope concluded by saying: “‘Praise God’ is the title of this letter. For a human being who claims to take the place of God becomes the worst danger to himself” (no. 73).
Let us ask ourselves: is our relationship with nature an act of praise to God or a way of trampling upon his gift? In the vineyard of creation, do we behave as guardians, or as owners and plunderers?
For weekly reflection
- To see whether our life is producing the good grapes of love and justice or, on the contrary, the wild grapes of selfishness and injustice, let us compare ourselves with the eight characteristics of Christian conduct indicated by Saint Paul in today’s second reading: “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is honourable, whatever is virtuous and whatever deserves praise, let these be the object of your thoughts” (Philippians 4:6-9).
- What could you do concretely to “pollute less, reduce waste, consume prudently” (no. 71) and foster a new sensitivity of respect for the “vineyard” of creation?
Fr Manuel João Pereira, Comboni Missionary, MCCJ
Fr. Manuel João, comboni missionary
Sunday Reflection
from the womb of my whale, ALS
Our cross is the pulpit of the Word
