Parable of the Tenants [October 2, 2011]

The Sunday Gospel [October 2, 2011]

Matthew 21:33-43

33 “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. 34When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants* to the tenants to obtain his produce. 35But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. 36Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. 37Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ 39They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” 41They 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.” 42Jesus 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’?

43Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.

Reflection

“The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produce fruits of the kingdom.” ~ Jesus in v. 43, NRSV

The Parable of the Talents tells us how much God loves us, and how much confidence he has in us to rise above our human frailties. We are weak and because of this many of us will not reach his kingdom. But God does not despair. We may commit the greatest evil, like killing his only Son, but with his grace we can still earn the eternal blessedness he promises.

Yes, God gives us the power to win. He has given everything we need so we can rise to greatness – our intellect, our will, our eyes, hands and feet. Beyond these, his grace is offered to all so we can be like the saints. God keeps his promises.

Source: The Reflection is from Bro. Abel Navarro (you can visit his blog at http://myblogabelnavarro-abel.blogspot.com/).