Sunday Gospel Comment
Alberic Jacovone OSB
YEAR A TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR - 29.9.02 Ezek 18,25-28; Phil 22,1-11; Mt 21, 28-32 The Lord’s "beloved vineyard" Vine & Vineyard in the Bible. Poets are people who are able to describe -in symbolic, exalted fashion- the deepest values & aspirations of their culture: since they’re in touch with their people’s longings, pride & needs, their vision captures the imagination and enhances national pride. This is the case also in the Bible. In all Ancient Near East literature, "vine & vineyard" stood for life: rich, abundant, fulfilled life. The reason is simple: unlike other plants, the vine grows well in the hot, arid, semi-desert conditions, typical of that part of the world; its fruit produces a drink, that -if taken in moderation- stimulates, energizes & enhances well being. In the language of the Bible, the concepts of ‘vine & vineyard’ are used to represent God’s beloved people, chosen especially by God as his own. (‘Chosen vineyard of the Lord Sabaoth is the House of Israel’, says Isaiah with pride and conviction (Is 5,7); ‘luscious vine was Israel, as it yielded abundant fruit’ says Hosea in 10,1). In the Book of Psalms the ‘Vine’ expresses God’s love for his people as it grows to extraordinary proportions: uprooted from the land of Egypt and lovingly cared for by the heavenly vinedresser in the land of Israel, the vineyard of the Lord has prospered and has covered the mountains with its shadow (Ps. 80,9-12) At the same time, terrible is the Lord’s anger against its chosen vineyard if its people rebel against God: it becomes ravaged by the boar of the forest (Ps. 80,14). This rich, poetical language is essential background and must be kept in mind, to understand the language of Jesus in his parables about vineyard and labourers, vintage and share, vine and branches. From every nation, God gathers his people to work in his vineyard. Only if we are worthy members of God’s family, we keep the privilege of being God’s beloved vine. Sadly at times, we respond to God’s invitation with jealousy, hypocrisy; even with open rebellion. The vineyard is the Church. Today’s Gospel challenges the claim that we can be worthy children of God’s family, with full rights of workers in God’s beloved vineyard without actually doing God’s will. This cannot be the case. At the time of Jesus, many despised sinners and tax-collectors accepted God’s invitation in Jesus, whereas the political and religious leaders of the nation failed to accept and obey God in Jesus. For Christians, the Church is God’s household and God’s beloved vineyard. At all times and throughout our lives, God calls us to go and work in his vineyard. Fortunate are we if we look at ourselves as labourers called by God to work in the vineyard of his Church. We know of course, that in this vineyard God is the undisputed ‘Land-owner & Master of the House’. Still, since we respond freely, we end up grumbling - being jealous - rebelling - or even claiming to usurp for ourselves God’s beloved vineyard. In Matthew’s Community the concept of God’s beloved vineyard carried the special message that Jewish Christians (those called early) and Christians from the Pagan world (those called late) must both be grateful for the gift of faith, delighted to enjoy together God’s unbelievable generosity. For us today, Jesus’ symbolic language about ‘Vine & Branches’ is intensely life-giving and nourishing our spiritual life. It’s good for us to acknowledge that, on the night before he died, Jesus communicated the bonding of God’s love in Christ with each of us, us when he said: ‘I am the true vine and my Father is the vinedresser... I am the vine and you are the branches...cut off from me, you whither... Remain in me...’ (Jn 15,1+). |
