The Lord's Vineyard

by Fr. Roger J. Landry - February 25, 2005

Gospel Passage

Matt. 21:33 "Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. 34 When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. 35 But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. 37 Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.' 39 So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" 41 They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time." 42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'? 43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. 44 The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls." 45 When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them. 46 They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet."

Brief Commentary

Today we listen to the Father's beloved Son describe the drama of salvation history in a parable.

Jesus likens God's kingdom to a well-endowed vineyard leased to tenant farmers. At vintage time, the owner sent servants to obtain his produce, but they were repeatedly beaten, stoned and killed. Finally, the Father sent his Son, but they killed the son thinking that thereby they could acquire his inheritance.

The vineyard was the sum of God's gifts — life, freedom, and God's word. The tenants were the people of Israel. The desired produce was acts of faithful love toward God and neighbor. The servants were the prophets. The Son is Jesus.

The tenants were unwilling to remain stewards of God's gifts; they wanted to be owners. Desiring to be "like God" (Gen 3:5), they wanted their lives, their produce, their work, all God's gifts, to belong to them.

Their envy led to atrocities.

In words reminiscent of "crucify him!," they shouted, "Come, let us kill him!," not realizing that the Son was the greatest inheritance of all.

The Pharisees recognized that such conduct merited being put to a "wretched death," but it didn't stop them.

Christ, however, took upon himself their "wretched death," fertilizing the soil of the vineyard by his own blood.

God has generously given us that vineyard. Vintage time nears.

Father Roger J. Landry is pastor of St. Anthony of Padua in New Bedford, MA and Executive Editor of The Anchor, the weekly newspaper of the Diocese of Fall River.