[__01__]
This Sunday, we read the parable of the tenants and the landowner and
the vineyard.
The
tenants, we would understand, have signed a …
- Contract
(OR)
- Lease agreement (OR)
- Covenant / agreement … with the landowner.
These
tenants – they – dig, cultivate, work the land, prune the grapevines, harvest
the grapes by their efforts.
In a
strictly agricultural or agri-business or wine industry context, the tenants
are the stewards, the caretakers of the soil, the hillside, the vines.
On
this weekend of the feast of St. Francis of Assisi, they would be reminded of
their responsibility to care for all of God’s blessings and creation – animals,
sun, moon, stars, even the rainfall and precipitation.)
From
the business perspective of the tenants, they can certainly legally – and
contractually – keep some of what they grow.
[__02__]
You and I receive certain gifts,
certain treasures. But, in all of them, we are not simply trying to figure out
what to plant and bury in the ground for our sole personal use later.
Rather,
we are called to consider what we can harvest and give back …
CONSIDER…
[__03__]
OUR INTELLIGENCE / EDUCATION – for all of us, young and old, in school
and out of school, we are called to use our intellectual gifts for the good of
others.
Doesn’t
this apply to everyone…not simply to scientists, engineers, medical doctors?
That
is, that we use the gift of our intelligence for God’s goodness. And, for you –
boys and girls – to use your minds, your energies, your studies, to serve him.
So,
in doing your homework, by staying in school, yes, you are giving back.
You
are similar to the tenant who willingly gives up the grapes, the fruit to the
landowner.
However,
doing your homework, staying in school is only 1 part of this covenant – this
agreement – between you and God. The Lord will send his servants to get the
harvest…
The
Lord will send teachers, parents, supervisors … to obtain the best from us, sometimes to ask us to do more than we we
are willing to do …
Now,
of course, there may be things that we simply cannot do … that are not in our
power… but the question raised by the parable is not about “ability” but about
voluntary willingness.
The
tenants can give back…they are just unwilling.
[__04__] In other words…. Isn’t it also true that
some subject areas, some tasks or, or aspects of life’s curriculum – or core curriculum
? – we are are called to do what is relatively easy and and sometimes to do
what is difficult or frustrating.
In
school / academia / the academic setting, we are often willing to do more in a
subject in which we have, naturally …
- APTITUDE, fondness, abiltity… something we are
good at..
- AFFECTION … that is, we like the teacher or boss
Don’t we all want to do things in which we
excel …
- Mathematicians
want to solve problems in terms of area and volume and numbers
- Quarterbacks
want to throw touchdowns
- Other
examples…painters want to paint..sculptors want to sculpt… writers want to
write.
And,
in the parable, the tenant farmers were – we are told – proficient – adept at th cultivation of grapes, the harvest, the
pressing of the grapes and the bottling of the wine. This is what they are able
to do..
What
they are currently unwilling to do is to surrender ..to share the percentage
with the owner. Rather, they are launching a hostile takeover of the vineyard.
They
also do not recognize that their well-being is connected to that of the owner
and the whole community.
Doesn’t
the commandment invite us to love God and love our neighbor as much as we love
ourselves.
[__05__]
By resisting the owner of the vineyard, by not sharing, the tenants are
showing that they are only willing to love themselves and not others…
[__06__]
In his relationship with his disciples, Jesus does not ask each of us
for the same percentage.
To
the rich young man/rich young ruler whom he meets on the road, Jesus says, give
me 100%, sell all your possessions.
From
Zacchaeus the tax collector, Jesus receives 50%. Zacchaeus says he will give
half of his possessions to the poor.
Yet,
even at the 10% “bracket”, Jesus critiques the scribes and Pharisees for being
too demanding, too exact, too precise.
While
this 10% is a good measure for many of us, this will not necessarily apply to
all of us.
Most
of all, what our Savior wants is our open door, our open heart, so that when he
sends his servants to us … we would be willing to listen.
These
servants could be our children telling us about God’s covenant, our agreement
to work in the vineyard the would be asking for a percentage of our attention….
A friend asking for a percentage of our help… an elderly or infirm spouse or
relative seeking a percentage of our wisdom at the doctor’s office or at home.
We
also might be approached by the teacher / mentor / coach … to whom God wants us
to give a greater percentage of our effort.
We
maintain our vineyard by listening and welcoming these servants. [__fin__]
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