Reflection for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

STEWARDSHIP IS NOT OWNERSHIP

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Readings: Isaiah 5:1-7, Philippians 4:6-9, Matthew 21:33-43

 

The gospel reading of this Sunday is on the parable of the Wicked Tenants. This parable is about a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a hole for the winepress, built a watchtower, leased the vineyard to tenants and then went on a journey to a distant country (Matt. 21:33). When it was harvest time, the landowner sent his servants to collect from the tenants, his own share of the harvest, but the tenants seized the servants, beat the first, killed the second and stoned the third (Matt. 21:35). Even when the landowner sent a larger group of servants including his own son, the tenants treated them worse than the first of group of servants that were sent to them (Matt. 21:36-39).

Basically, God is the landowner and the vineyard of the Lord of hosts according to Isaiah in the first reading, is the house of Israel- our world of today (Isaiah 5:7). As the landowner entrusted his vineyard to the tenants to care for it, so has God also entrusted to us according to our professions and different states in life, some responsibilities to perform. As parents for instance, God has entrusted to us, the care of our children and the family life. As political leaders, heads of governments and heads of organizations, God has entrusted into our hands, the care of the lives and properties of those under us. As religious leaders, God has entrusted to us, the care of the flock and the goods of His Church. You too have your own.

What the tenants failed to understand is that they were mere stewards or caretakers of the vineyard and not its owners. As stewards, they were meant to be accountable to the owner. The landowner trusted them so much to have entrusted the vineyard to their care in his absence but they took advantage of his trust and absence. The tenants were ungrateful to the landowner who had shown them great favor. They returned his favor with wickedness. They were also guilty of greed. They killed the heir of the landowner in order to inherit the vineyard themselves. They were neither responsible nor accountable.

Dear friend, the liturgy of today wants us to make an honest assessment of how we have been taking care of the things and persons that God in his benevolence has entrusted to our care. Today, we have many people who act like the wicked tenants. When we maltreat our house help, our workers, apprentice, nanny and all our subordinates that fate has brought our way to protect and care for, we are imitating the wicked tenants. When as security agents (SARS, POLICE) and political leaders, we kill and endanger the lives of those we swore an oath to protect, we take after the wicked tenants. When as shepherds, we become wolves to the sheep we are meant to tend, we follow the examples of the wicked servants.

Finally, we are all God’s stewards in one way or the other. A steward is meant to take care of things and people and not to plunder or kill those he is meant to care for. In the same way is a guide or leader meant to lead or gather and not to mislead, misinform or scatter the people. Let us therefore ensure that we never abuse the trust that God has on us and may we strive to be responsible and accountable stewards. Amen.