THE CHURCH MUST REMAIN THE NOBLE AND PRODUCTIVE VINEYARD OF THE LORD
There is no doubt that the Church is in turbulent. Its image in the world is shaky. It has lost relevance and importance among many people in the face of many scandals. Especially, the learned who could see through her struggles with a critical mind. Christians and the Church leaders could justify their relevance and that of God. But the question is: do we represent God´s purpose for his vineyard? The Church must remain the noble and productive vineyard of the Lord. If it must relevant in today´s world.
OUR THEMES
The first reading and the gospel of today are correlated in themes. They present us the image of the Church as the choicest vineyard of the Lord. Where God laboured and endowed with all classes of spiritual gifts, blessings and grace. It is destined to flourish, to bear fruits and show forth the glory, grace and mercy of God.
However, it faces challenges from the conduct and lifestyle of its occupants; the Christians and its leaders. Our lifestyles and driven purpose oppose the will of God. Making us antagonists instead of protagonists to the God´s Kingdom, the truth and God´s prophets among us. Hence, there will be consequences and repercussions for our actions.
We are also challenged to nobility, honesty, genuineness of spirit. The Church is to be a spiritual vineyard of prayers, supplications and transformation of the glory, grace and mercy of God in the world. In other words, in the Church, there must be nobility and productivity in spiritual matters that transform the human person and human society.
FIRST READING: ISAIAH 5:1-7
The prophet Isaiah confronting the people of Israel remains them, they were the choicest vineyard of the Lord. They were intended and tended by God to bear fruits of holiness. However, failure to bears fruits would mean disgrace, miseries and woes.
The Psalmist helps us to articulate perfectly the first reading: The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel. The choicest people of God with its history of slavery, struggles, survivals and salvation. (Psalm 79)
SECOND READING: PHILIPPIANS 4:6-9
St. Paul´s writing to his beloved Christian community of Philippi encourages them and us to a spiritual life of prayer and goodness. He invites them to be imitators of him in doing whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, and whatever is commendable in Christ Jesus. As a Christian Church and community in the world.
This is how the will of God can be done and true peace of mind from anxieties and perplexities can be attained. Trusting in prayers, supplications, thanksgivings and live a worthy life of the Christian calling.
THE GOSPEL: MATTHEW 21:33-43
The gospel message of the parable of today is clear: the Jewish nation is the vineyard and its owner is God. The cultivators to whom the vineyard is leased or charge with its welfare are the religious leaders and the people of Israel. The messengers who were successively sent were the prophets of God that were often rejected, maltreated and killed. Equally, the only son sent is Jesus Christ.
THE CHURCH AS THE VINEYARD OF THE LORD
Invariably, the parable of the tenants in the vineyard in our time and era is the Church. The Body of Christ meant to be the living presence of God of earth. A Church empowered by God´s grace, blessings and mercy to nobility and productivity. A spiritual endowment that transforms and transcends human dominance.
There are some basic points score in this parable of today.
GOD TRUST AND ENTRUSTED MAN ALL
1. It tells us much about God. (a)God’s trust in men and entrusted the affair of his vineyard: the Church without policing. (b) It tells of God’s patience. He bears with men in all their sinning and appeals to them through his messengers and Son: Jesus Christ. (c) We learn also of God’s judgment. The cultivators of the vineyard: that is the religious leader and Christians will face the sternest judgment form their actions and choices. If they are not useful instruments they will sink to the lowest level of uselessness to God and the world.
JESUS, THE FULLNESS OF GOD´S DIVINE APPEAL
2. The parable much to tell us too about Jesus Christ. (i) It tells of the claim of Jesus as belonging to the succession of the prophets. Though, while the other prophets were God´s messengers. He is God´s Son, the fullness divine appeal of grace and mercy to all. (ii) It tells of the sacrifice of Jesus. His mission was to redeem the rebelling mankind.
THE HUMAN DISPOSE TO GOD
- 3. Finally, the parable reveals to us about the nature of men.
- (a) There is a human privilege of the abundance of God´s grace, mercy and enrichment at the disposal of men.
- (b) It tells us also of human freedom. God is no tyrannical task-master that imposes his will on us. He rather respects our freedom that comes with responsibility and consequences.
- (c) The human answerability makes us aware that. to all men comes a day of reckoning. We are answerable for how we have carried out the task God gave us to do.
- (d) It tells of the deliberateness of human sin. The cultivators carry out a deliberate policy of rebellion and disobedience towards the master. Sin is a deliberate opposition to God´s will and grace. It is also the taking of our way when we know quite well what the way God is.
DON’T MAKE GOD AND THE CHURCH LESS RELEVANCE
The core point of today´s parable is that the Church is the choicest vineyard of the Lord. It is planted for a noble and productive purpose. Where we can grow to maturity in the sunshine of care and abundance of God’s grace. But the vineyard can fall into disuse, or fail to produce the expected fruits of graciousness and loving mercy. Human inclinations or influences can rob it of God´s intended purpose. Making it an instrument or source of bitterness or disillusionment to God himself and true believers.
There are clear shreds of evidence that when we allow our human idiosyncrasies to be the dominant factors instead of God´s presence and grace. In the Church, so many errors and bad things happen. Especially, when we excusably justify or assert that the church is not a perfect institution. It is made up of imperfect human beings. We do not only admit to mediocrity but reject or refuse cooperation with the abundant grace of God to be a noble and productive Church in an imperfect world.
OUR PRAYER
Lord Jesus Christ, when you entrusted God´s vineyard, your mystical body: the Church to us. From all intents and purposes, you meant that the church becomes a noble and productive vineyard to all spiritually. Today, deliberate human mediocrities and excusable weaknesses have produced scandals, rivalries, divisions and manipulations instead of fruitfulness in love, grace, mercy and goodness. We pray that our lives may never be soured by bitterness or disillusionment in your Church. Amen
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