INTRODUCTION
The First Reading and the Gospel are closely connected. They both made use of the image of the vineyard. Isaiah sees in Israel the vineyard the Lord loved and expected it to bear good fruits, instead it yielded only sour grapes. Matthew applies the same image to the Gospel but in a different dimension. While the prophesy of Isaiah says that the vineyard will be destroyed, the Gospel states that the tenants of the vineyard will be brought to a miserable death. St. Paul’s letter to the Philippians links itself to the theme espoused by First Reading and the Gospel by insisting on the practical aspects of Christian life, the expression of faith in God through loving interaction with others within the community.
FIRST READING: Isaiah 5:1-7
The relationship between God and the people of Israel was founded first of all on the covenants He sealed with their patriarchs. Before becoming a people as pronounced for the first time in the book of Exodus 3:7, God anticipated His relationship with them through the promises made to their fathers to be with their descendants. Thus the captivity of the people in Egypt was a historical occasion that not only revealed the intervention of God in their lives for the first time but equally served as a moment of in which the people got to know and to experience the “hear-say” God of their fathers. God chose the great event of their liberation from Egypt through crossing of the red sea as the greatest historical moment to manifest himself in the life of his people which later served as a pledge for the covenant established with them. This is why the history of Israel as a chosen people is told around this great event. Hence, the history of Exodus (1300 B.C.) became a continuous reminder of God’s benevolence towards them. Unfortunately, the people never co-responded positively to God’s benevolence. Their relationship with their God was dotted with disobedience and rebellion and sometimes the adoption and worship of foreign gods.
In the first reading today, called Isaiah’s Song of the Vineyard, the prophet accounts for the regret of God over his people:“What more was there to do for My vineyard that I had not done?” In this biblical imagery, the prophecy of Isaiah describes Israel as an unproductive vineyard; a vineyard that only yielded wild grapes after all efforts put in place by God by digging the hill and clearing it of stones and building watchtower in it. The prophet went ahead to remind the people that the love of God cannot be wasted without justice, hence, the resolution of God to destroy the vineyard. But the word of the Psalmist today is a one that pleads for the mercy of God on behalf the people. He calls Israel the vine taken out of Egypt and planted by God after driving away many nations (Ps 80:8-11). He regrets the great ruin that had befallen Israel and asked God why He decided to destroy the work of his hand leaving it as a prey in the hand of intruders (vv12-13). And with great trust in the mercy of God, he begs the Lord to revisit the vine He once planted with his hand and save it from further ruin. He equally pledges faithfulness on behalf of the people (vv 14-19).
The readings draw our attention to the fact that we too, the “new Israel” have proven to be unproductive vineyard and are due for terrible destruction.The question to be asked in the tone of Isaiah and to be responded by Matthew is: What has God not done for us? Absolutely nothing! The highest gift God has given to humanity is his only begotten Son. Therefore, the readings today are given as a warning and at the same time a call for sincere conversion so as to avert the wrath of God.
SECOND READING: Philippians 4:6-9
Since the Christians at Philippi have received the Gospel enthusiastically and have continued to support Paul after he has evangelized them, Paul tells them affectionately of the high expectations he has for them and shows them how they are to become fruit-producing Christians. Using the Greek moralist phrases, “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,” Paul instructs them to accept and live in the true peace of God by “prayer and petition with thanksgiving,” and to “keep on doing what they have learned and received and heard and seen” in him.Paul’s words of instruction as to how the Philippians should be fruit-bearing vines are equally applicable to us. We, too, must grow in our relationship to God through prayers of adoration and thanksgiving. These should be followed by prayers of contrition for our failings, and of petition in which we ask for spiritual and temporal favors. Paul assures us, too, that such prayers will bring peace of mind in this life and eternal peace and happiness in the life to come (Fr Anthony Kadavil).
GOSPEL: Matthew 21:33-43
The background of the parable is traceable to the relationship of friction between the tenants and the landlords in the Palestinian time of Jesus. The wide expanse of vineyards needing tenants were usually owned by the rich and often absent landlords living in Jerusalem, Damascus, or Rome. Thus, it was a common practice to lease their vineyards to tenants who in turn were expected to pay rent to them. The rent might be paid in any of three ways. It might be a money rent; it might be a fixed amount of the fruit, no matter what the crop might be; and it might be an agreed percentage of the crop (Barkley).
But because of the continuous rising of inequalities between the rich and the poor working class, the country was often characterized with economic unrest. This usually generate discontent and rebellion against the rich. In fact, the tenant farmers had a revolutionary slogan known as, “land for the farmer.” They would sometimes refuse to pay the rent as previously agreed upon and, in some cases, assault the landowner’s representatives. It is natural, then, that Jesus’ parable should reflect the popular hatred of foreign domination and the monopolizing of agricultural land by a rich minority who supported Roman rule.
Today’s Gospel story is told within by Jesus during the passover feast (Mt 21:33-43). It makes clear reference to the prophesy of Isaiah in the reading. But in this case, Jesus instead referred the household of Israel as the wicked tenants who had persecuted the prophets sent to them by God. And in reference to his imminent suffering and death, Jesus already foretold the plot of the Jews “the wicked tenants” to eliminate him, the Son and and heir of the vineyard owner. Thus, He forewarned how God will unleash his wrath over the household of Israel for refusing to adhere to their covenant with God (giving him the produce that is due for him) and by eliminating the servants of God meant to remind them of their responsibilities towards their God. The parable became clearer to its listeners when Jesus said that the vineyard will be handed over to the Gentiles who would indeed “bear fruit” and harvest the kingdom of God.
Jesus concludes the parable by making reference to the rejected stone which turned out to be the cornerstone.
The biblical interpretation of this stone is of two sides:
1. The first reference is from Psalms 118:22 : “The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.” The stone in which the Psalmist speaks of is the nation of Israel. Israel was the nation which was despised and rejected. The Jews often hated by men and subjected to slavery of many nations; but after all, God chose them to be his people.
2. The second mention of the stone is as given in today’s Gospel of Matthew 21:44. This time around, it is the house of Israel that rejected and despised the Messiah sent by God and chose to eliminate him. But little did they know that He was the cornerstone holding the household of Israel. In other words, the most important person ever existed in their history. The importance of Christ was later acknowledged by Julian, the Roman Emperor who tried on several occasions to bury Christianity. When he failed completely in all his attempts to banish Christianity and bring back the old gods, he said as he was meeting his death: ‘To shoulder Christ from out the topmost niche was not for me.’ He recognized that he could not remove Christ from his true place above all others.
Matthew concludes the Gospel by presenting Jesus to his Jewish Christian converts as the foundation stone rejected and killed by their fathers, and invites them to build their faith in Him on which everything stands, and the cornerstone which holds everything together. However strange the pictures painted in this Gospel might appear to us, they were certainly familiar to every Jew who knew the the history of the prophets, their life, mission and end. And ofcourse the story of Jesus whom they also saw as a prophet was most handy to them.
LIFE MESSAGE
1. THE CHURCH IS GOD’S VINEYARD The Church is the vineyard of God where the fruits of the kingdom are cultivated. God through Jesus has given the Church everything necessary to make Christians fruit-bearing: i) The Bible to know the will of God. ii) The priesthood to lead the people in God’s ways. iii) The Sacrament of Reconciliation for the remission of sins. iv) The Holy Eucharist as our spiritual Food and Drink. v) The Sacrament of Confirmation for a dynamic life of Faith. vi) The Sacrament of Matrimony for the sharing of love in families, the fundamental unit of the Church. vii) Role models in thousands of saints We are expected make use of these gifts and produce fruits for God (Fr. Anthony Kadavil). But the prophesy of Isaiah tells us how God feels when He sees the lifestyle of many Christians today. God regrets because He has given all. There is nothing left to give after the gift of his only Begotten Son. There are many wild grapes in the Church today. Every one of us is called to look into his/her life to see if we truly bear good fruit or wild grapes that do not represent God’s expectations. What type of fruits are we?
2. THE SIGNS OF GOOD FRUITS
Our daily lives should be a living testimony of and a justification of our identity as the followers of Christ. We show our conformity to Christ through the mutual sharing of his blessings with our brothers and sisters especially the most needy, by sacrificing our time and talents for the members of the family, by recognizing and encouraging others especially when they are not measuring up, by honoring and gracefully obeying our parents, by being the cause of smile for the sad, the sick and the abandoned and by accepting all as brothers and sisters (‘Fratelli tutti’ of Pope Francis). These are the ways we become producers of “good fruit” in our families and in our societies.
3. SELF QUESTIONING IS A PATHWAY TO CHANGE
We must be bold enough to ask ourselves some fundamental questions today such as: Can we truly boast of fulfilling God’s plans in our lives? What kind of grapes do we produce in our parish communities? Are we sweet or sour to the taste of those who come in contact with us? Do we make good use of all the graces and opportunities God has given to us? Are we reliable stewards ready to account for everything God has given to us, or are we ungrateful tenants that tend to push God aside and do not acknowledge that all we have and are belong to God? Do we truly live a life of justice every day of our lives avoiding the exploitation of others as much as possible? What type of image do we portray to people who are not in the vineyard, the Church? How do accept the ministers as God’s messengers in his vineyard, journeying with them in faith and carrying them along in prayers and good counsel when they are weak? Or are we the type that persecute them and diffuse their weaknesses as quickly as possible? How often do we remember that one day the justice of God will overtake our wasted days of his love and graces? Let us meditate on these questions as we pray to be fruitful vine in the vineyard of the Lord.
PRAYER
Almighty and ever-living God, You are the source of every thing that exist, and without You there is nothing truly good in itself. The abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us, to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask. Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son who lives and reigns with You in communion with the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.
PAX VOBIS!
