Matthew 21:33-43
Dear Friends,We are quickly approaching the end of the Church year with our journey in the Gospel of Matthew. The next several Sundays have selections that highlight two things: Jesus’ conflict with the Jewish leaders and His call to make a decision on His message.Down through Church history these final chapters of Matthew have been distorted to produce an anti-semiticism that has been a gross distortion of the Gospel and activities that have been abhorrently inhuman and unjust in the relations between Jews and Christians.
The basic message of the parable of the murderous tenants of the vineyard asks us to face up to the need to make a decision. Will we be stewards of the gifts that God has given us? Are we living the Gospel message in our family? Are we making a contribution to our community to make it more life giving to all? Are we being responsible and not squandering the blessings of our environment? Are we responding to the call to act justly and be instruments of peace?
Jesus demands a decision. Do we accept His call and the gift of unconditional love? Are we able to recognize that all of life is a gift to be cherished and developed? The call of stewardship asks us recognize the dominion of God and our reality as finite creatures who are gifted and loved.
It is God’s world. Our task is to be faithful workers in the vineyard of life. We are called to accept the Son who will guide us and direct us to the truth and freedom that our hearts long for.
Stewardship in the vineyard of life is made so much easier and so much clearer when we accept the gift of the Father, Jesus Christ.
I hear so often from people that they do not need to go to church and attend Mass to know God. There is an element of truth in this claim. But the fact is that God has laid out an obvious map for us in Jesus. God has given us a Church to celebrate the presence of the saving mystery. God has given us the Liturgy which is the privileged source and summit of faith. All of these gifts are caught in the call to be stewards of the vineyard. Why not accept these gifts rather than ignore these riches of our faith? It is like the workers in the parable saying we can do it our way without the Son.
“I don’t need the Church.” “I don’t need the Mass.” I don’t need the liturgy.” All these claims come up a little lame when God exposes our mortality and our frailty in the experience of suffering and loss.
Today’s Gospel is an invitation to embrace the dominion of God. The vineyard of our life is a gift for us to use and celebrate in the presence of a loving God. This God has sent us His Son to teach us the way. Let us all be the wise stewards and accept the gifts of Word and Sacrament God has given us to guide us on the way.
