Reflection 10/9/20:
Welcome back from a long weekend. I hope that everyone enjoyed the extra time
(I’m sure our students did) and beauty that was afforded to us over the course
of the last few days. Congratulations to
our 3rd graders, and their families, who received the Sacrament of
First Communion last weekend. Driving
home from mass Sunday, I couldn’t help but play the parable of the landowner
who planted a vineyard over in my head.
How obvious this mindset is in our society today and more so, how
overlooked it is as well. At some point,
we need to ask ourselves what is truly earned, what is leased and what can
actually be taken away?
The Gospel reading from Matthew yesterday told the story of
the landowner who planted a vineyard, fenced it, dug winepresses and leased the
land to tenants before he went abroad.
When it was vintage time, he sent servants to the tenants to collect his
produce but the tenants seized and killed them.
The landowner again sent more servants to collect and the tenants did
the same to them. Finally, the land
owner sent his son thinking that they will respect him, but the tenants seized
and killed him as well. When Jesus asked
what the owner of the vineyard would do to the tenants, the people answered “he
will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other
tenants who will deliver the produce.”
Seems easy enough to understand as I’m sure all of us would have the
same response as this is the only logical thing…however, logic is not a large
commodity these days now is it? Jesus
answers them saying “I tell you, then, the kingdom of God will be taken from
you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.” Jesus saying a couple things here; first, the
parable represents the Son of God following up on the message that many before
have attempted to tell the people and yet, still receiving the same end as
those who came before Him. Secondly, He
is reminding us (the tenants) that the vineyard is NOT ours to possess, only to
dwell in. This is, I believe, the more
relevant lesson today.
The vineyard is not ours.
God has built this beautiful vineyard and provided it with the best
winepresses and leased it to us as tenants.
We know this and I’m sure if you ask anyone, they would agree. Likewise, we know He is going to return to
collect the vintage. So my question is
this, why do we still act like we are the owners in this life and not
tenants? Why did the tenants act like
they owned the vineyard when they knew well and good that they didn’t? Why do we so often ignore authority and
consequences? Well, simply because it’s
not what we want. If we are honest, we
can find this mindset throughout our society today in all areas and in all
ages. “I don’t want to listen to that so,
I’m not going to.” “This is what I want
so I’m going to take it.” “This is how I
want to do it so I’m just not going to listen to what I’m supposed to do or
what may happen if I don’t.” And I’m
sure, one day, there are going to be several tenants standing at the gates of
heaven saying “but it was MY vineyard, he let us work it so we should be
allowed in.”
I have been thinking of this all week as I observe the
actions of the society around me. This
year has been beyond challenging and unfortunately, those challenges have not translated
into empathy, compassion and love. As
a matter of fact, it has brought out the exact opposite in the overwhelming
majority of people. I think it’s time
for us to ask ourselves, is what we have - our purpose and reason for receiving the gift of life, really because of us, or, is it because
of the Landowner? Maybe then we can act accordingly.
Mr. Swann - Principal