XVII SUNDAY: Mt 21:33-43

THE PARABLE OF THE VINEYARD

The theme of the vineyard as representing the people of Israel was an old one, used specially by Isaiah, who spoke harsh words against the leaders and the people in general, because of their unfaithfulness and their bloody oppression.

In the same vein, Jesus told the parable as a warning and an indictment against the leaders of the people, the chief priests and the elders - the ones who would be responsible for his death. Jesus was aware of his impeding death and he used the parable to show it and to put it in the context of the history of salvation.

God, represented by the landowner, took the initiative. He prepared everything that was necessary, planting vine of the best choice, in such a way that in Isaiah God asks: “What could I have done for my vineyard that I have not done?” God called the People of Israel and made out of them his own people.

And then what happened? The tenants forgot the landowner and behaved as if the vineyard belonged to them. The parable presents the history of the people of Israel as a history of rejection of God and of his messengers and a history of opposition and violence against all those who stand for God’s rights. At this point, we must remember that the attitude of the tenants attributed to the people of Israel and especially of their leaders is a paradigm of our own attitudes. Humanity as a whole does what the people of Israel did, taking their destiny in their own hands.

God’s plan was a plan of cooperation, in which we are called to share the work and the rewards with God. However, people (the tenants) turn against God, ignoring God’s rights. But God doesn’t let it go. He goes on pursuing his claim on us. And so he decided to send his only son, thinking that they would respect him son. In the letter to the Hebrews (Heb 10:7), we find that the son offered himself to go. It was a dangerous mission into the unknown: although expecting respect and obedience, the worst might happen! 

At this point, the parable reaches the climax: Seeing the son, the tenants grasped the opportunity of getting rid of the owner once and for all. If they kill the son who will inherit the vineyard, then they will become its owners. Nobody would bother them anymore. And so they did what they had planned. They killed the son.

Jesus was telling them: You are going to kill me, but the vineyard will not be yours. God will find people who are ready to accept him and to recognise his rights.

Some people think of Jesus’ death as part of God’s plan, stating that he sent his son to die. It was not so; God sent him to be accepted, loved, followed and obeyed. They did not carry out God’s will by killing his only son. Their action was an evil action, inspired by the great enemy. The rejection and the killing of Jesus was a crime. Jesus’ death is the ultimate proof of what we are capable. That’s why the words of Isaiah still reverberate in today’s world: “He (God) expected justice, but found bloodshed; integrity, but only a cry of distress.” (Is 5:7). On the other side, Jesus death is the ultimate proof of his faithfulness and his love.