Gospel MK 12:1-12
Jesus began to speak to the chief priests, the scribes,
and the elders in parables.
“A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it,
dug a wine press, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenant farmers and left on a journey.
At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants
to obtain from them some of the produce of the vineyard.
But they seized him, beat him,
and sent him away empty-handed.
Again he sent them another servant.
And that one they beat over the head and treated shamefully.
He sent yet another whom they killed.
So, too, many others; some they beat, others they killed.
He had one other to send, a beloved son.
He sent him to them last of all, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’
But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
So they seized him and killed him,
and threw him out of the vineyard.
What then will the owner of the vineyard do?
He will come, put the tenants to death,
and give the vineyard to others.
Have you not read this Scripture passage:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?”
They were seeking to arrest him, but they feared the crowd,
for they realized that he had addressed the parable to them.
So they left him and went away.
Reflection:
Having arrived in Jerusalem, “Jesus began to speak to the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders in parables.”
Ordinarily we think of a parable as a story that teaches a comparative lesson. But here, Jesus is delivering a message that, although hidden to some, is clear to the chief priests, scribes and elders.
Jesus is saying to the church leaders and elders: my Father entrusted the people of Israel (the vineyard) to you (the stewards) in expectation that you would raise them up as God’s loving people and return them to Him.
But, instead, you have tried to take ownership of the vineyard (the people) for yourselves.
My Father sent His prophets to to tell you of His dissatisfaction, and you stoned and killed them. Now, my Father has sent me, His Son, and you plan to kill me too.
Therefore, my Father will take the responsibility for the guiding and caring of His people away from you, and give it to others (the Gentiles).
We are not called to judge the behavior of the priests, scribes, and elders, but to learn from their mistakes.
How well are we tending the vineyard that God has entrusted to us?
Our extended family, our friends, our neighbors, the strangers we meet, the poor, the needy, and especially the beggars we encounter; these are our vineyard.
Do those in “our vineyard” see Christ in us? Do they feel the love of God the Father when they encounter us?
Do we allow the God who lives in us to touch the God who lives in each of them?
“Go out into the world today and love the people you meet. Let your presence light new light in the hearts of people.” – – Mother Teresa