XXVII Sunday of the Year

TENANTS, NOT OWNERS

Isaiah 5:1-7; Philippians 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-43

Readings for the XXVII Sunday of the Year

The angel Gabriel returned from surveying the earth, and reported to God: “You own a choice piece of real estate called earth. But the tenants to whom you’ve leased it are destroying it. They have polluted your rivers; fouled the air; degraded the soil; destroyed the rain-forests… In another few years, it won’t be fit to inhabit. By any rule of sound management, you have one option.” Raising his trumpet to his lips, Gabriel asked: “Shall I sound the eviction notice?”

God said: “No, Gabriel! Not yet. You are right, but I keep thinking if I give them a little more time, they’ll quit acting like they own the place!”

The readings of today 

- portray us as tenants of God’s vineyard, and remind us not to act like we own the place. 

- highlight God’s generosity and trust: he provided everything the people needed—fertile land, hedge, winepress, tower—to produce a good vintage. 

- tell us of God’s patience: he sends his servants several times to collect the produce, and finally sends his son. 

- remind us that God’s justice will prevail: the people yielded “wild grapes” (first reading); they refused to hand-over the produce, and treated the servants and the son violently (gospel). He finally evicts the tenants: “The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”

We are tenants. God has given us a mission to accomplish. He has provided the means and the freedom to accomplish the mission in a most amazing “vineyard”! But we behave as if we own the vineyard…

- whether we see the vineyard as nature and environment: we destroy rain forests, cut through hills/mountains for “development”; pump in sewage and untreated waste into rivers and seas; release toxic substances into the air from vehicles and factories; waste water, fuel, and electricity.

- whether we see the vineyard as the Church and the world: we change commandments, liturgical norms, and rules of morality.

- we are intolerant of anyone questioning us; we do not want to be accountable.

Do I care for creation, or do I ruin it though my selfish and materialistic consumerism? What kind of fruit do I bear: “wild grapes” or grapes of good vintage? Do I hand over the produce to God, or do I act like I own the vineyard?