XXVII SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 21:33-43
In the first reading (Isaiah 5:1-7), the prophet Isaiah compares the people of Israel to a vineyard planted by the Lord with “choice vines”. He took good care of the vineyard and did whatever was needed to have the best grapes. However, it only produced “sour grapes”. And the prophet explains what caused the Lord to be disappointed: “He expected justice, but found bloodshed, integrity, but only a cry of distress.” As a consequence, the Lord abandoned the vineyard and left it to its own fate.
The theme of the vineyard is taken up in the gospel (Matthew 21:33-43), through the parable of the evil tenants. In this parable, Jesus looks at the history of the people of Israel and reads it as a history of betrayal and revolt. The tenants ignored the owner of the vineyard and ill-treated his messengers, beating them up and even killing some of them. In the end, he sent his only son, hoping that they would respect him. However, when they saw the son, they decided to kill him and become the sole owners of the vineyard.
Jesus identified himself with the son sent by the Father and killed by the tenants (the leaders of the people of Israel). Then, Jesus asked his listeners, "Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” And they gave the answer that condemned them: “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him when the season arrives.”
Today, the parable must be applied to us. We are the tenants to whom Jesus entrusted his Church, the vineyard. Time and again, we show the same type of behaviour as the leaders of the people of Israel. We ignore and despise the word of God and those who proclaim it. Like those who came before us, we want to be the owners of our own destiny, defying God and revolting against him. One day, the evil results of such behaviour will come to us.
The Psalm (Psalm 80), which comes after the first reading, is a plea to God, reminding him that he was the one who chose us, and we go on waiting for his mercy and compassion.
God of hosts, turn again, we implore,
look down from heaven and see.
Visit this vine and protect it,
the vine your right hand has planted.
The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
And we shall never forsake you again;
give us life that we may call upon your name.
God of hosts, bring us back;
let your face shine on us and we shall be saved.
