WE ARE ONLY BUT STWEARDS OF THE LORD'S VINEYARD

 

Homily for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, Isch

Scriptural Texts: Isaiah 5:1-7; Philippians 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-46

 

In the gospel reading of this twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Jesus tells us about the Parable of the Wicked Tenants (Matthew 21:33-46). The expression “wicked tenants” may seem strange to very many of us because in this part of the world, we rarely hear of the wicked tenants but the wicked landowner/landlord/landlady. In the parable, Jesus speaks about a vineyard, its loving owner, the unfaithful tenants, and the consequences of their actions.

The parable begins with the image of a vineyard owner who carefully plants, builds, and tends to his vineyard. This vineyard symbolizes God’s Kingdom or his people, particularly, the people of Israel, and the owner represents God himself. After that, he entrusts the vineyard to the tenants and goes on a journey. In entrusting the vineyard to the tenants, God, the owner of the vineyard demonstrates his love, trust, and desire for his people to bear the fruit of righteousness and faithfulness. It is the one that is trusted that can be entrusted with responsibilities.

This parable is a fulfilment of what is foreshadowed in the first reading. There, the prophet Isaiah paints a vivid picture of God’s care for his vineyard, symbolizing Israel (Isaiah 5:1-7). Just like in the parable of the Wicked Tenants, God carefully prepared and nurtured the vineyard, expecting it to yield sweet grapes, representing righteousness and faithfulness. However, it produced wild grapes, a metaphor for the people’s unfaithfulness, sin, and injustice.

In the parable of the Wicked Tenants, as time enfolds, the owner sends servants to collect the fruits. These servants represent the prophets whom God sent to guide and instruct his people. Tragically, the tenants mistreat, reject, and even kill these messengers. This mirrors the historical rejection and persecution of the prophets by the religious leaders and people of Israel.  In an extraordinary twist, the owner sends his own son, expecting that the tenants will respect and honor him. However, the wicked tenants see the son as an obstacle to their selfish ambitions and, ultimately, they kill him. This foreshadows the rejection and crucifixion of Jesus, the Son of God by the religious authorities.

One thing that stands out here is that despite the tenants’ unfaithfulness and violence, the owner exhibits remarkable patience. He sends messenger after messenger, extending chances for repentance. God, too, is patient with us, providing countless opportunities for reconciliation and turning away from sin. But then, the parable takes a dramatic turn when the owner declares that the vineyard will be given to other tenants who will produce the fruits in due season. This signifies the transfer of God’s covenant and blessings to a new people who will accept Jesus as the cornerstone - the foundation of faith.

As we reflect on these readings, let us remember that like the people of Israel in the first reading and the tenants in the gospel, we are all caretakers of God’s vineyard. Each of us has a role in spreading God’s love and message of salvation. It challenges us to examine how we are fulfilling this responsibility. As stewards, we are entrusted with God’s vineyard. As such, this parable calls us to reflect deeply on our own stewardship of God’s vineyard - our lives and the Church. Are we bearing fruits of righteousness, love, and faithfulness? Are we listening to the messengers of God’s Word and accepting his Son as the cornerstone of our faith? God, the owner of the vineyard expects us to bear fruits of love, compassion, and faithfulness. Let us heed the words of St. Paul in the second reading and focus our minds on what is true, noble, and just, allowing God’s peace to reign within us (Philippians 4:6-9).