October 8, 2017

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time A Isaiah 5: 1-7; Philippians 4: 6-9; Matthew 21: 33-43 As in last week’s readings, the theme we hear today is about ourselves: Am I greedy? Am I jealous? Do I feel that I am entitled? Do I feel that ‘life owes me’ or that God owes me? Now thinking on this, how could God possibly owe me? He has brought me into this world at this time in this age. I didn’t have to do anything. I was born into a family that cared for me. If I didn’t receive the care or the love that was needed, I now see that I sit here and have survived. In this survival I have learned that I am cared for and that I am loved. I wouldn’t be reading this blog or be a regular at attending the Liturgy where I learn of God’s love and care if I haven’t been touched by God. So now I have come to the point that I know that I am loved…that the Holy Spirit has blessed me with special gifts and that through the nurturing of these gifts I become aware of the fruits of the Holy Spirit which enable me to live and interact as a witness to Jesus’ love. The readings today call each person to see how urgent is this task. As we read the beginning of Isaiah’s book, it is evident that the prophet is calling for a change of heart from the people. They had been wandering far away from God. Isaiah is telling them that God is upset with them, they have disappointed God in living sinful lives. In today’s passage, Isaiah is explaining how ‘his friend’ has been very concerned with the vineyard. He prepares the land, plants the best seeds and protects the vines from any harm. The wine press is all set to begin the process of making wonderful wine. It is a nice story, people are pleased to listen to it…then the bottom falls out. The crop is a complete failure. Why? The grapes are the culprit. Everything must be started anew. One scholar, Fr. Eugene Hensell explains it this way, “As Isaiah’s audience marvels at this sad outcome, the prophet suddenly reveals that they themselves are the failed vineyard Despite all God’s efforts to teach the people good judgment and true justice, they turn to bloodshed and violence.” Isaiah starts out in a very ‘happy go lucky way’ but then very cleverly the ending comes as a brick of lead. We can so easily become set and comfortable in our ways without seeing that these are our ways…are they in keeping with God’s ways? Paul tells us to not become set with the status quo and never hesitate asking God for strength to live His ways. We can become so sure of ourselves that we fail to see that the purpose of our existence is from God and for God. Paul tells us to set aside our anxiousness and to trust that God hears all our prayers. He is implying that we should look at how we are living our lives as Jesus taught. Think about what is honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious. Think about how I am acting and living and how I have arrived at this point. Paul encourages me to continue living in this way. He holds himself up as an example. What does he mean by this? By his examples of love and caring and kindness? I don’t think so. Paul understands that his life as an apostle, and my life as a follower, means a life of suffering which is a manifestation of the Cross of Christ. So am I patterning my life on the easy life or on the knowledge that being a person of love involves sacrificing what I want to do for what Jesus needs me to do. This involves the cross… carrying my cross…living my crosses…helping others with their crosses…when convenient and especially when inconvenient. This is what it means to be a servant of God. In the Gospel, Matthew has reworked a story found in Mark 12: 1-12. It deals with salvation history and why Jesus was killed. The focus involves a deep criticism of the leaders in Israel. They are incompetent. They have not listened to the urgent plea from the prophecy of John the Baptist to reform their lives and be converted. They act like, ‘Why do I have to be converted… I’m doing everything right… I’m a teacher and an expert…people should be listening to me…I know what God says…I will be the first to know when the Messiah will come…because, ‘I’m the best’…. The parable Jesus uses shows the vineyard as Israel. The tenant farmers are Israel’s leaders. The householder is God. The servants are the prophets. The son is Jesus. We hear of the absentee landlord who leases his property who cares for it while the owners is gone. When he returns, he will collect payment from the proceeds of the crops. The tenants want the property and goods themselves…’ ‘we deserve it for all we’ve done’…The landowner sends his son to collect, the tenants kill the son; Jesus is again predicting His own crucifixion and death. What will the owner do when he comes? The answer is that he will have them killed and then lease his vineyard to other tenants; tenants who will produce good fruit. I become set in my ways, like the tenants in the Gospel. I am too quick to reject whatever scares me or threatens me, whatever I don’t understand. I reject whatever challenges me and I want to stay in my soft, comfortable little world. I want to create the vineyard to be what I want it to be…but its God’s vineyard…the world God created. How am I responding to God’s call to work in and to continue to create His vineyard in His image? Living the Word shares this wonderful insight: “When I listen to reports about what people do or do not have and how they respond to their life situations, I’m struck by the difference between those who are grateful and those who feel entitled. It seems that a sense of entitlement fills many of us and destroys the virtues of gratitude and responsibility. When I feel entitled I often envy what other’s have and focus on what I do not have. Envy blinds me from seeing what I do have and keeps me from being grateful. It also feeds the need for more rather than seeing that often I have enough. I can become willing to do anything to grab more, even violence. This is the dynamic in the Gospel parable. The tenants wanted what was not theirs. In their lust for more they become violent, even to murdering the owner’s servants and son, mistakenly thinking that they would be given the vineyard. … Philippians offers an antidote: Seek whatever is true… Truth can lead to accepting what our gifts are and are not, and help us grow in right relationship with God, others and ourselves. Truth invites gratitude for our gifts and the ability to develop them. Truth fosters appreciation of others’ gifts. Then when we mourn what we lack, we discover that we have all we need, or we find ways to seek what we need without destroying another.” So I reflect on: • I look at the times that I felt ‘entitled’…that I deserved this job…promotion…grade , etc. How did this affect me? Was I anger and bitter or grateful for God’s love? • Each person of religion must ask, ‘What are the practical consequences of my belief? Does this produce anger, pride, greed? Does it bring me closer to God? • When I have dealt with the failures in my life, have I discovered that I have spent more time in praying and listening to God? What has God told me? How deeply has it affected me? Sacred Space 2017 states: “Jesus reminds us that the kingdom does not belong to us—it is a gift of God. I consider what it is that I think I own and consider how its is that all good comes from God’s hands. So I give thanks. Lord, what fruits of the kingdom will You bring out of my life? Help me cultivate faith and pay attention to Your gifts to me.