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This week's gospel selection
from St. Matthew describes the owner of a vineyard who takes great pains
to prepare a vineyard that will yield a rich harvest. When the harvest
time arrives those who had rented the vineyard refuse to yield the
harvest. They abused the owner's slaves and even went so far as to kill
his son. To Jesus' original listeners the meaning of the parable was
obvious-- God was the vineyard owner, the slaves were the prophets, the
Son was Jesus, and the bad renters were the scribes and the chief
priests of the people.
Like Jesus' other parables this one also has a deeper, timeless meaning.
The owner of the vineyard has correctly prepared it for a productive
yield. The world in which we live is no accident of nature. God has gone
to great lengths to make it a beautiful, productive place which will
yield a bountiful harvest, in the right hands.
St. Paul describes that
harvest in this way, "your thoughts should be wholly directed to all
that is true, all that deserves respect, all that is honest, pure,
admirable, decent, virtuous, or worthy of praise." What a wonderful
harvest we would yield, if only we lived according to Paul’s
instructions. Unfortunately, many of us live like the renters in
the story. We do not love and respect the vineyard nor its owner. We are
afraid that it will not yield enough for ourselves and others. We take
more than we need, in fact, we want it all.
There is a harmony in the
world that is easy to observe. Like a great edifice constructed by a
master builder, the world has form and function, grace and beauty. The
keystone that holds it all together is the Lord. In today's gospel we
are invited to follow his example and yield an abundant harvest for the
Father.
The scriptures today challenge us to ask what kind of harvest am I
yielding for the Lord. Is the world a better place because of my being
here? Am I making a contribution? These are the kind of questions
we take up in small faith groups. If you have not signed up for a small
faith group, there is still time. Consider this way of sharing your
gifts with the parish.
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