XXVII. O.T. Is 5:1-7; Phil 4:6-9; Mt 21:33-43 

The common theme of today’s readings is the necessity of bearing fruit in the Christian life and the consequent punishment for spiritual sterility, ingratitude and wickedness.  The parable of the wicked tenants is a theological summary of the entire history of the ingratitude, infidelity and hard-heartedness of the Chosen People.   Its importance is shown by its appearance in all the three Synoptic gospels.

Jesus describes the mysterious absence, the seeming distance of God, in terms of a landowner who goes away on a long journey, leaving his vineyard in the care of others. The servants fail the tests: they forget that they are stewards, not owners. The stewards reject even the owners’ son which was a terrible mistake, leading to their damnation.

There is a legend about a simple man who was lifted from the gutter and magically granted three wishes. First he wished for material goods and forthwith became very rich. Then he wished for understanding and soon became very wise. At last he used his third wish to express his desire to become as God, and immediately he found himself back in the gutter.
So it was with the wicked tenants. Dissatisfied with their role as stewards and not owners, they eventually lost the very vineyard which supported them. The tenants of the vineyard are most to be pitied.

Jesus quoted the words of the Psalmist to open their eyes to the mistake the Jewish leaders were doing: "The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head stone or the corner stone." The cornerstone is the keystone or capstone completing the arch and supporting the entire structure. There was a legend that was well known in New Testament times that in the building of the temple of Solomon most of the stones were of the same size and shape. One stone arrived, however, that was different from the others. The builders took one look at it and said, "This will not do," and sent it rolling down into the valley of Kedron below. Then years passed and the great temple was nearing completion, and the builders sent a message to the stonecutters to send the chief cornerstone that the structure might be complete. The cutters replied that they had sent the stone years before. Then someone remembered the stone that was different than all the rest that somehow did not seem to belong. They realized that they had thrown away the cornerstone. They hurried into the valley to retrieve it. Finally under vines and debris they recovered it and with great effort rolled it up the hill and put it in place so that the great temple would be complete. The stone that had been rejected had become the chief cornerstone. Jesus, who had been rejected now reigns at the right hand of the Father. From rejection to rejoicing.

October is Pro-Life month. Abortion and the culture of death are far from conquered. It is the worm killing the grapes in the vineyard, and spoiling the garden. There is an axiom in law which states that the greater the person offended, the greater the offense itself. Since God Himself was the victim in today's parable, the offense against Him was beyond measure. Jesus directed the story at the Pharisees. Who does He direct it to in today's society?
Parables are never only past; they are also present. How do we treat the prophets and truth tellers of our day? How do we care for the earth, which God has put into our care? Do we welcome truth even when it sounds harsh to our ears? Do we act like owners or like stewards whose master is on the way?

Recognizing that we have to honor the contract we made at the baptism with God, the owner of the vineyard, let us ask ourselves these questions.

What kind of grapes do we as a parish community produce?  Are they sweet or sour?  What is our attitude toward everything God has given to us?  Are we grateful for everything God has given to us, or are we like the ungrateful tenants who acted as if they owned everything God had given them?   Do we measure the quality of our parish by what happens during Mass, or on what happens when we leave Church?  How do people see us? By what we do on Sunday, or by what we do on Monday as well?

Let’s pray that we may be good stewards in God’s vineyards by producing good fruit and being responsible with our Christian duties?.