1.0. THE TWO VINEYARDS
Let us meditate on the two beautiful
parables of the vineyards as given in the first reading and the Gospel of
today. The prophet Isaiah talks about the vine garden that was planted on a
fertile hill, well fertilized, cleared of stones, “and planted with choice
vines.” In the Gospel, Jesus says the householder sets a hedge around the vine
garden. In both stories, there was a well built wine press and a watchtower in
vineyard. There was great expectation that such huge tender care committed to the
vines and the garden would yield great results.
In Isaiah’s version of the story,
the vines disappointed the owner. “When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did
it yield wild grapes? After consuming all his love and care, the vines repaid
the householder with soar grapes. As a result, the vineyard lost all the
favours it enjoyed, and ended up a waste land. At the end of the story, the
prophet said, “For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel,
and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting.” The wild grapes they produced
were bloodshed, unrighteousness and tears.
In the Gospel, the householder
leased out the vineyard to tenants. The vine produced its fruits but the greedy and
selfish tenants would not let the owner receive what was his due. The tenants
embodied the unrighteousness of Judah that Isaiah mentioned. The love, generosity
and patience of the householder contrasted the greed and wickedness of the
tenants. The man was so generous as to stage his son, but they were equally too
selfish and wicked as to kill the son with hope of taking over the vineyard
completely. At the end, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and
lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their
season.” Here, the vineyard was not destroyed, but the unrighteous caretakers.
2.0. THE CORNERSTONE
At the end of the parable, Jesus
said to the Chief priests and elders of the people, “The very stone which the
builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it
is marvellous in our eyes.” Thus, the religious leaders represent the tenants
placed in charge of the vineyard of the Lord. The Messiah whom they tried to
usurp his position was actually their last hope of being saved. A miserable end
awaits any religious leader who is greedy, selfish and wicked, who scandalizes
the people and leads them astray, such that God would not receive the glory due to Him from His vineyard.
The Church is the new vineyard of
the Lord. Jesus towers over it from the Cross like the watchtower in the vineyard. The fount of life flows from His
pierced side like the wine press. He hedge it all round and fertilized it with
His word and Sacraments. The vineyard of Jesus is fruitful, bearing fruits of
righteousness and holiness. In a way, each baptized Christian is a tenant to whom
this choice vine is entrusted to, and the Master expects to reap his fruit at
the appointed time. If we act like the greedy and selfish tenants in the
parable, we shall meet a miserable end. That is why St Paul urges us not to be
ambitious or anxious about anything, instead we should approach everything with
prayer, supplication and thanksgiving to God. Already, we begin to return to
God the glory that is His due; giving Him His own share of the fruits of the
vine! “And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
And if the contemplation of our hearts and minds, and our aspirations are on Christ Jesus as St Paul said, then we will come to realize that Jesus Himself is the fruitful vine and we are His branches through which His fruits come forth (In 15:1-8). He is the Taproot of our lives, the Cornerstone on which we stand secure. So, let the meditations of our hearts be on the righteousness, justice and peace of God. Our minds should be focused on whatever is lovely, excellent and worthy of praise, “And the God of peace will be with you." Amen.
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic
Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Sunday October 4th, 2020.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com
