Reading
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
“Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat,
another they killed, and a third they stoned.
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones,
but they treated them in the same way.
Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking,
‘They will respect my son.’
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,
‘This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?”
They answered him,
“He will put those wretched men to a wretched death
and lease his vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the produce at the proper times.”
Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Therefore, I say to you,
the kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”
Reflection
Praised be Jesus Christ!
The Gospel today can serve as a reflection upon the History of Salvation; that is, a reflection on God’s relationship with His people.
The opening verse of today’s Gospel can serve as a reminder of creation. Notice how the landowner takes great care to erect the vineyard perfectly. He plants the vines and builds a hedge to protect the vines. This is how God created the Heavens and the Earth. He took great care to create perfectly the Earth and all that is in it. However, man disobeys God and loses his perfect inheritance.
Throughout the Old Testament, God sends various judges and prophets to correct His people. But they are rejected and killed. Later, God the Father sends His Son who is rejected and killed. Those who were heirs lose their inheritance, and it is given to others.
The parallels between the parable of the landowner and the History of Salvation are clear. In both we see loving creation, disobedience, rejection and killing, and the giving of the inheritance to another people.
We are the current heirs of God’s Kungdom.
May we not be ungrateful and reject what has been given us. May we be heirs of Eternal Salvation.
As always, know of my prayers before Our Lord truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.
+ Bishop Schlert
