The Tenants and the Vineyard
This homily was given by Dn. Jerome Atherholt on Sunday, August 29, 2010, based on the Gospel of Matthew 21:33-42.
Winston Churchill once made an observation regarding a member of parliament who was known for his over inflated ego. As this member passed by, Churchill was
heard to say, “There but for the grace of God goes God.”
Last week’s Gospel lesson dealt with the story, told by our Lord, of the tenants and the vineyard. In it Jesus tells us of a landowner, who built a vineyard and who, while away, let his vineyard out to tenants to care for. When it came time for the harvest, the landowner sent some servants to collect the fruit. They were beaten, killed and stoned by the tenants. So, the landowner sent another, larger, team of servants to collect and, they too, were beaten and killed by the tenants. Then the vineyard’s owner sends his son, believing that he would be treated with respect and, therefore, would be able to accomplish the mission. But, of course, the tenants recognize him and, in a plan to gain his inheritance, kill him as well. (A harebrained notion if ever there was one).
When Jesus told the story of the tenants and the vineyard, the beheading of John the Forerunner had already taken place. Our Lord was telling the listeners that the habitual behavior that the Israelites displayed in the past towards God’s servants, the prophets, had once again been repeated with the beheading of John. Not only that but it would happen again; this time with a different and profoundly important, victim.
The history of God’s prophets and the children of Israel can, at times, be a frustrating read. Their fate seems predictable. Almost every time a prophet appears on the scene they end up being beaten, tortured, exiled, ridiculed, cast out, denigrated or killed. It‘s almost automatic; a prophet appears and out come the wooden saws, the stones, the mobs, the clenched fists etc... It’s a little frustrating. And, it’s not like the children of Israel don’t know who these
people the prophets were. Many times they recognize them as sent from God. But they just don’t like what they hear and end up treating them badly anyway! You would expect that, after a couple of times, they would wise up. But they don’t. They say, “Hey, remember what happened the last time? That guy cheesed us off too so we killed him and then the hammer came down; and the time before that with whatisname? Remember THAT? Oooh that was nasty. Maybe we should heed this guy’s words. Whaddaya think? Nah: let’s rough him up and kill him too.”
It’s an amazing thing that God, knowing their wickedness, stubborn nature and their evil and vindictive habit of destroying His prophets, sends them anyway; over and over again! Why? I just don’t get it!
Now, take the story that Jesus told about the vineyard and the stewards; If I were a landowner with a vineyard whose servants were ill treated and killed, I certainly wouldn’t bother to send another group unless they were armed to the teeth, ready to mow down any tenant who stood in their way. I wouldn’t put up with that; not for a second. And the very LAST person I would deliver into their bloodstained hands would be my SON! Those tenants would be history…GONE!
And the prophets; ok once or twice, maybe three times, but after that forget it, I’m done. Here I am trying to reach out to them; and this is what I get? I wouldn’t waste my time trying to get through their thick skulls. I’d wash my hands of them.
Obviously we can all be thankful for God’s grace, that I am not God. Because I just don’t get it. None of us do. None of us possess or can even comprehend the love that is God. The love that persists in reaching out to a stubborn, sinful and violent race; Love that patiently endures through and beyond all hatred and ill treatment. A love that sees the larger picture.
A love that willingly delivers His Son into our bloodstained hands and allows his body and blood to pass our unclean lips.
Where would we be if God were like us; if He treated us like we treat one another or like we treat Him? What if He had washed His hands of His thick skulled and hard hearted creation; leaving us to glory in this life only? We would be, of all creatures, most miserable.
Thankfully God is incomprehensible. Thankfully God is NOTHING like us. Thankfully he loves us still.
Winston Churchill once made an observation regarding a member of parliament who was known for his over inflated ego. As this member passed by, Churchill was
heard to say, “There but for the grace of God goes God.”
Last week’s Gospel lesson dealt with the story, told by our Lord, of the tenants and the vineyard. In it Jesus tells us of a landowner, who built a vineyard and who, while away, let his vineyard out to tenants to care for. When it came time for the harvest, the landowner sent some servants to collect the fruit. They were beaten, killed and stoned by the tenants. So, the landowner sent another, larger, team of servants to collect and, they too, were beaten and killed by the tenants. Then the vineyard’s owner sends his son, believing that he would be treated with respect and, therefore, would be able to accomplish the mission. But, of course, the tenants recognize him and, in a plan to gain his inheritance, kill him as well. (A harebrained notion if ever there was one).
When Jesus told the story of the tenants and the vineyard, the beheading of John the Forerunner had already taken place. Our Lord was telling the listeners that the habitual behavior that the Israelites displayed in the past towards God’s servants, the prophets, had once again been repeated with the beheading of John. Not only that but it would happen again; this time with a different and profoundly important, victim.
The history of God’s prophets and the children of Israel can, at times, be a frustrating read. Their fate seems predictable. Almost every time a prophet appears on the scene they end up being beaten, tortured, exiled, ridiculed, cast out, denigrated or killed. It‘s almost automatic; a prophet appears and out come the wooden saws, the stones, the mobs, the clenched fists etc... It’s a little frustrating. And, it’s not like the children of Israel don’t know who these
people the prophets were. Many times they recognize them as sent from God. But they just don’t like what they hear and end up treating them badly anyway! You would expect that, after a couple of times, they would wise up. But they don’t. They say, “Hey, remember what happened the last time? That guy cheesed us off too so we killed him and then the hammer came down; and the time before that with whatisname? Remember THAT? Oooh that was nasty. Maybe we should heed this guy’s words. Whaddaya think? Nah: let’s rough him up and kill him too.”
It’s an amazing thing that God, knowing their wickedness, stubborn nature and their evil and vindictive habit of destroying His prophets, sends them anyway; over and over again! Why? I just don’t get it!
Now, take the story that Jesus told about the vineyard and the stewards; If I were a landowner with a vineyard whose servants were ill treated and killed, I certainly wouldn’t bother to send another group unless they were armed to the teeth, ready to mow down any tenant who stood in their way. I wouldn’t put up with that; not for a second. And the very LAST person I would deliver into their bloodstained hands would be my SON! Those tenants would be history…GONE!
And the prophets; ok once or twice, maybe three times, but after that forget it, I’m done. Here I am trying to reach out to them; and this is what I get? I wouldn’t waste my time trying to get through their thick skulls. I’d wash my hands of them.
Obviously we can all be thankful for God’s grace, that I am not God. Because I just don’t get it. None of us do. None of us possess or can even comprehend the love that is God. The love that persists in reaching out to a stubborn, sinful and violent race; Love that patiently endures through and beyond all hatred and ill treatment. A love that sees the larger picture.
A love that willingly delivers His Son into our bloodstained hands and allows his body and blood to pass our unclean lips.
Where would we be if God were like us; if He treated us like we treat one another or like we treat Him? What if He had washed His hands of His thick skulled and hard hearted creation; leaving us to glory in this life only? We would be, of all creatures, most miserable.
Thankfully God is incomprehensible. Thankfully God is NOTHING like us. Thankfully he loves us still.