The Stone Which the Builders Rejected
Introduction: May you continue to
experience the peace of GOD and may you give to others that same sense of peace
as a sign of your gratitude to GOD of Peace.
Some people take for granted what they have gained, especially if it
was handed over to them without their doing a lot of work. You see this
sometimes in the offspring of individuals who worked hard to support their
families. The children get used to the niceties of what their parents have
given them. They do not fully appreciate all the hard work that has been done
on their behalf. We are challenged to reflect on what our loving Abba-Father
has given us and show our appreciation for all that we have been given by
sharing with others what we have received.
Vineyards and seeing the fruit of one’s labour are possible themes
from today’s readings. Isaiah shares a song about a vineyard in today’s First
Reading. The vineyard, which has been planted with choice grape plants, is
producing wild, unsavoury fruit. The psalmist compares the nation of Israel to
a vine transplanted from Egypt into the Promised Land. The choice vine is now
being attacked. St. Paul sends greetings of peace to the people of Philippi as
he prays that they will live lives that bear fruit from the good seed that has
been planted in them. In the Gospel, Jesus shares the story of a vine owner who
leases the vineyard to others who seek only their own benefit from the
well-provided vineyard.
Commentary: A vineyard needs a lot of
devoted care, pruning, manuring, and tying back. In the rocky soil of Israel
even more special care is needed, such as gathering the stones to form
retaining walls to keep the soil from eroding, building a look-out tower
against thieves, and a vine-press for crushing the grapes. Then the right fruiting
vine has to be grafted onto the sturdy stock, as here the vine dresser grafts
on fine grapes. Imagine his disappointment when all he gets for his pains is
inedible wild grapes! After this haunting parable of Isaiah, the vineyard
became a stock image of Israel, swathed in God’s loving care, and all the
dwellers in the rich vines of the hill country of Israel would be aware that it
was an image of the love lavished on the vineyard. So, when Israel goes into
Exile, Psalm 80 laments, ‘You brought a vine out of Egypt. Why have you broken
down its fences? Every passer-by plucks its grapes. Wild beasts feed on it.’
The prophets also, especially Ezekiel, use the image. Jesus’ hearers would
immediately recognize what he meant.
The psalm recounts the history of the Jewish people from their being
transplanted from Egypt. When GOD planted them in the promised land, GOD gave
them all they needed to grow into a rich harvest for GOD. Yet, because of their
infidelity and their failure to follow GOD’s commands, their cities have been
destroyed and their rich yield has been taken away by animals. It ends with a
prayer to GOD to restore the vineyard to its former richness and a promise that
the people will be faithful.
Commentary: This warm and affectionate
little passage was probably originally the end of a letter from Paul to the
community at Philippi which he loved so well. It is a lovely conclusion to a
letter. Paul encourages them in every way to be cheerful in the Lord but
especially to be grateful. If we really appreciate that the Lord is near, we
cannot worry, and the peace of God will rest upon us. Then gratitude and
thanksgiving will be our mode of thought, penetrating all our thoughts on every
subject. The word Paul uses for ‘thanksgiving’ is the word used for the Eucharist,
which is the great prayer of thanksgiving, offered by Christ to the Father in
the name of us all. It is the summing up of all prayer, petition, gratitude,
and admiration. No doubt Paul is thinking of it as the high point of all
prayer.
Commentary: Jesus’ understanding of the
sovereignty of God brought him the violent opposition of some of the Jewish
leaders. Were they corrupt, or just closed to any new way of thinking, so
closed that they could not see that Jesus was the promised Messiah? Anyway,
Jesus used this story about the tenants of a vineyard to show that they were
not leading the people as they should. Everyone would immediately understand
the image of the vineyard. The prophet Isaiah – and many others after
him – had used this image in a well-known poem eight centuries earlier to
show that the vineyard of Israel refused to yield a good harvest to God,
whatever care God lavished on it. God expected fairness of judgement and all he
found was a shriek of agony (the same word in Hebrew apart from one letter).
What does this mean for us? Not that we have to follow every new idea. But it
does mean that we must be open to the idea that we may be wrong, that our
service of the Lord may be faulty, that people we find tiresome or unacceptable
may have more good in them than we credited. God’s ways are not our ways, and
we need to watch out for the bend in the road.
Reflection: What is the message of the
parable of the vineyard? Jesus' story about an absentee landlord and his
not-so-good tenants would have made sense to his audience. The hills of Galilee
were lined with numerous vineyards, and it was quite common for the owners to
let out their estates to tenants. Many did it for the sole purpose of
collecting rent.
The Lord's vineyard in the house of his people
Why did Jesus' story about wicked tenants cause offense to the
scribes and Pharisees? It contained both a prophetic message and a warning.
Isaiah had spoken of the house of Israel as "the vineyard of the
Lord" (Isaiah 5:7). Jesus' listeners would have likely understood this
parable as referring to God's dealing with stubborn and rebellious people.
This parable speaks to us today as well. It richly conveys some
important truths about God and the way he deals with his people. First, it
tells us of God's generosity and trust. The vineyard is well-equipped with
everything the tenants need. The owner went away and left the vineyard in the
hands of the tenants. God, likewise, trusts us enough to give us the freedom to
run life as we choose. This parable also tells us of God's patience and
justice. Not once, but many times he forgives the tenants their debts. But
while the tenants take advantage of the owner's patience, his judgment and
justice prevail in the end.
Gift of the kingdom
Jesus foretold both his death on the cross and his ultimate triumph.
He knew he would be rejected and put to death, but he also knew that would not
be the end. After rejection would come glory - the glory of his resurrection
from the grave and his ascension to the right hand of the Father in heaven.
The Lord blesses his people today with the gift of his kingdom - a
kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. And he promises
that we will bear much fruit if we abide in him (see John 15:1-11). He entrusts
his gifts and grace (unmerited favor and blessing) to each of us and he gives
us work to do in his vineyard - the body of Christ in our midst today. He
promises that our labor for him will not be in vain if we persevere with faith
to the end (see 1 Cor 15:58).
We can expect trials and even persecution. But in the end, we will
see triumph. Do you follow and serve the Lord Jesus with joyful hope and
confidence in the victory he has won for you and the gift of abundant new life
in the Holy Spirit?
Thank you, Lord Jesus Christ, for all the benefits which you have
given us - for all the pains and insults which you have borne for us. O most
merciful redeemer, friend, and brother, may we know you more clearly, love you
more dearly, and follow you more nearly, for your own sake. (prayer of St.
Richard of Chichester, 13th century)
BORN TO BE WILD?
“Why...did it bring forth wild grapes?” —Isaiah 5:4
God took perfect care of His vineyard, the house of Israel (Is
5:1ff). With a perfect Gardener and perfect care, you would expect the vineyard
to produce domesticated, fruitful grapes. No one would logically expect wild
grapes to be produced. For this to happen, the domesticated grapevines that
were planted would need to acquire the plant physiology of wild grapes.
Therefore, God told the people of Israel, and us also, that if they
wanted to be wild, He would let them live in a condition that fits their desire
for wildness. Thus, the Lord tore down the walls that protected the vineyard,
allowing wild conditions, wild plants, and wild animals to invade (Is 5:5-6).
Perhaps then the Israelites would come to their senses (see Lk 15:17ff) and
return to the Lord. Perhaps the wild grapes would learn from the merciless
effects of wild living and humbly return to their domesticated, fruitful nature
that comes with being children of God.
When Jesus proclaimed the parable of the vineyard in today’s Gospel
reading, those who heard understood Jesus’ message clearly (Mt 21:45). However,
most of those who heard Him rejected His message, rejected God and His
protection, and chose wildness and separation from Him.
The message is clear. God’s plan is to bring us into His family, so
we’ll bear good fruit (Jn 15:5, 8, 16). Repent of any desire to “run wild” and
rebel against the Lord (Ex 32:25).
Prayer:
Father, do in me whatever it takes in order to do through me whatever
You will. “Then God’s own peace, which is beyond all understanding, will stand
guard over your hearts and minds.” —Phil 4:7. Praise Jesus, rejected,
crucified, and risen Lord God!
The personal question for today: In what
ways has GOD given me Good growth? How have I responded to the Goodness of the
LORD GOD? Who has the Lord Jesus called me to serve in a manner similar to the
way that the Lord Jesus has ministered to me? How can I bring the peace of GOD
and the GOD of peace to those individuals?