Weekend Reflections for 10/2/01

This Sunday’s rendering of the parable of the landowner and the tenants (Matthew 21: 33-43) has many of the hallmarks of a short story, but it may be one which we would prefer to hold at a distance or even ignore completely given the parable’s violent end. How could it possibly apply to us? This attitude, however, would be a mistake, because it neglects the fact that the story’s author is Jesus and that through it he wants to communicate to us something significant about the workings of grace. Afterall, this parable is part of the Gospel, and by definition Jesus’ Gospel is always good news. But sometimes, in order to hear the good news, we have to have the courage to let God show us that the good that he offers is far better than the mediocrity that we, too often, call “good.”

If we have the courage to allow ourselves to be drawn into today’s parable, we might notice some similarities between ourselves and the workers in the vineyard. Many of us work hard to build our lives. Through our presence and work in a place, we stake a claim to “what is ours.” When people come along who challenge our claims we often feel threatened. We might seek to rid ourselves of the stumbling blocks that they are, undermining the authority of the challengers that come by spreading gossip or by actively working to neutralize their threat.

But what if the stumbling block that we challenge, this stone that we reject while “building” our lives, is actually the cornerstone upon which the Lord wishes to build a life for us? It is not just the prophets, but Jesus himself who comes to tell us that the vineyard in which we work is actually not ours, no matter how hard we may work within it. It belongs no more to the worker who got there first than it does to the most recent arrival. The good news is that, once we realize this, we no longer have to weary ourselves by descending to the mediocrity of those who spend their lives anxiously grasping after things for themselves, but are liberated to freely give and receive as those who can rest in the peace and knowledge that all things belong to their Father.

Let us pray for the grace to find our joy not in claiming the fruit of the vineyard for ourselves –which would be stealing – but rather let us rejoice in offering it up to the one who allows us the privilege of working in his vineyard for the salvation of all.

Fr. Frank Reale, S.J.