The vineyard is the Lord’s!

We need to reflect on the message of the parable that acts like a mirror

On the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi this Sunday, the readings appropriately draw our attention to creation with two parables based on vineyards. The people of Isaiah’s time were very familiar with vineyards and their luscious fruit and wines. Isaiah takes this experience and weaves it into a beautiful “song” which Isaiah’s friend sings. The word translated for friend is “(yadad,)” which is usually used to describe those who are greatly loved by God. So, this is a very intimate relationship. This friend sings of his beautiful vineyard, which he created with great care — choosing fertile soil, preparing it lovingly, picking only the choicest grape plants. The friend has ensured that the vineyard would be safe from predators and would return splendid wine. But the crop only yielded wild grapes! If you have ever had the misfortune of tasting wild grapes, you know that they are lip-pursing sour! Now Isaiah turns to the people of Judah and asks them to judge the fairness of the situation: Should such an incredible vineyard yield bad grapes?   

Now we can see that this song has been the mournful cry of a lover’s broken heart. God has lavished the people with blessings of creation. The Holy One has tended and cared for them, but they have broken the covenant and turned to other gods. Now, all this care will be undone. It is obvious that God is the “friend” who treasures the vineyard, but desires good fruit — the fruit of justice and right relationships. The last line here is a telling play on words which comes through in the Hebrew: God looked for judgment, mishpat, but found mispah, bloodshed; for justice, sedeq, but found an outcry, secaqua! The people had refused covenant living! They had refused to care for one another! 

Jesus also uses the theme of the vineyard in his parable in Sunday’s Gospel. But the parable has a different twist. Actually, Scripture scholars believe that Jesus has turned it into an allegory, with all the “actors” taking on specific roles. Jesus’ audience, which included the leaders of the people, would have seen the vineyard as the People of God. They are the tenant-servants, who refused to hand over the produce that would fulfill the terms of the lease. They acted as if the vineyard and its fruit belonged to them! In the course of their history, God had sent prophets, but for generations the leaders and people had ignored them. Now they were again ignoring the message that Jesus delivers. But the rejection takes a murderous turn. Rejecting the message isn’t enough — they intend on killing the “son” and possessing the vineyard. Of course, this is outrageous because the owner will step in and reclaim his vineyard!

Jesus turns to the chief priests and elders, asking what a just consequence for the stolen vineyard and murderous tenants should be. “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 time.’ ” Ironic, they do not see themselves in the parable. Jesus spells it out — the Kingdom will be taken from you and given to people who will produce good fruit. 

We need to reflect on the message of the parable that acts like a mirror — do you see yourself as claiming ownership of the gifts and blessings God gives without much thought of how you can share them with others? Is your faith and circle of belonging your “turf” where others are not welcomed? Are the fruits of your efforts yours alone, or are you grateful for all the blessings that you have? The vineyard of our lives is the Lord’s, the fruits of our labors are the Lord’s. Are we faithful servants?