Isaiah 5:1-7・Ps.80.9+10, 15+16, 18+19.・Philippians 4.6-9・Matthew 21.33-43
“God`s people have been poor tenants, as to why we will know…”
Words of motivation to daily conversion, and to acquiring more generous heart
The intention of our Catholic Church in Japan these previous weeks was to pray together and pray more for all lives, to build a greater sense of protecting lives, and so promote further awareness on care of all creation. We ended this prayerful time and reflection for care of all creation & for protecting all lives last Wednesday Oct.4, the memorial day of St. Francis of Assisi.
Today`s theme is not so far different from last week`s parable of the vineyard. The vineyard symbolizes the Kingdom of God, and the tenants` role represents God`s people`s (our) responsibility to take care of the vineyard and work towards a truly fruitful vineyard.
Generally, we commonly understand that God`s vineyard is where the people of God can be found. The Lord`s vineyard is better seen broader and wider, including our respective homes, workplace, and even places of recreation, and places of other people we have been considering as total others to us.
The greater vision is to see the people of God "already" freed from attachment to worldly things (freed from fear of losing power, domination & riches), and are sent with zeal & dedication and joyfully working near and far. It is our task too, once in a while, to reflect on how we have been working in the Lord`s vineyard.
With the sublime vocation of the people of God, we however, usually encounter different ways on how His people behave in the Kingdom vividly presented through many different parables in the Bible.
Going back to what the vineyard symbolizes and to what the tenants` role represents, the parable of the vineyard in today`s gospel reading may seemingly present some disappointments of the landowner towards the behavior of the tenants. In fidelity to what the vineyard symbolizes, and what the tenants represents, we can conclude that “God`s people have been poor tenants in God`s vineyard.”
As we consider listening and reading the Word of God (the Bible) from the heart, we will learn more and more how the people who were around Jesus in his earthly days behaved towards Jesus presence among them. The chief priests, the elders, the Scribes and the Pharisees frequently mentioned in the New Testament Bible had struggled understanding the thoughts and ways of Jesus since it had been difficult for them to get over from their attraction to power and domination, from their self-centeredness & attachment to material things, and from valuing outward appearance over what is inside. They taught people in arrogance with their seemingly full knowledge of who God is. They at the end were left empty handed with Jesus` pronouncement of who He Himself (Jesus) was, in which has left them with no choice to preserve themselves by rejecting Jesus and subjecting Him (Jesus) to the cross..
The present day God`s people (us) as much as possible try the best not be associated with these old chief priests and elders, and the scribes and the Pharisees. Other people (our neighbors) are witnesses to our behaviors/attitude in the Lord`s vineyard. Moreover, oneself is witness to own`s attitude and motive while working in the Lord`s vineyard.
Let us continue to reflect on the bases we usually consider for our individual and community`s growth in faith and prayer life. There are indeed outward signs we consider very important in receiving sacraments regularly for example. There are a lot of outward signs and symbols that make our liturgy more meaningful, and help our hearts connect to the Divine. May all these outward signs and symbols we have considered important (material as they are) not be “an end-in-itself” (with a strict observance of the law while forgetting its purpose). All these outward signs and symbols points to only one, that is, to God`s love and forgiveness. When we detach our hearts from these outward bases, we will know how far we have grown in faith and prayer life, and how far we have participated to the pastoral ministry (宣教司牧) of the Church.
If we are unwilling to dissociate (to separate) ourselves from the thoughts & ways of some old chief priests and elders, and of some Scribes and Pharisees, we cannot make a good produce, possibly ends with a produce that is totally different from what is expected… and we will just continue falling short as tenants of the vineyard, God`s people who have been poor tenants.