Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

Gospel Reading: Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

 

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  atoned. 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.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.

 

The word Gospel means the “Good News of the Lord”. In today’s Gospel reading, we definitely hear the Good News of the Lord. At first reading, one may conclude that the message is rather harsh. A landowner builds a vineyard and then leases this land to tenants to harvest. When the landowner sends his servants for the harvest, the tenants, belligerent with power, kill the servants. The landowner, sends a larger group of servants and the same fate awaits them. Finally, the landowner “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’.” God planted us a vineyard on this earth, he sent us great profits and priest to harvest the fruits of his vineyard and we stoned and killed the messengers of God. As a last step to convert us and to bring us into his fold, God sent his only-begotten son, and we threw him out and killed him. Jesus tells us, “If they will not listen to Moses, and the profits, neither will they be persuaded if someone should rise from the dead.” (Luke 16:31). Jesus goes on to say in today’s Gospel, “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.”

 

As children of God, we have been provided the vineyard of the Lord. We are called to produce the fruits of the vineyard. Are we producing the fruits of the vineyard for our own gain or for our master in heaven. Are we “killing the messenger” or are we glorifying the Word. Today’s message is harsh, but the message is clear and good. We shall inherit the Kingdom of God , if we produce its fruit. Whenever and wherever the Holy Spirit enters our hearts, we should listen. No matter how painful the message, we should obey. We are tenants of this earth, what have you done to produce its fruits? During Lent, listen to the Word of the Lord. Ask the Lord for Wisdom in hearing his message. The apostle James tells us, “If any of you are lacking in Wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5).

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, I am in the midst of your vineyard

Give me wisdom to know how to harvest the fruit

So I too can bear fruit in your kingdom.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon