Every day of Lent, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Click HERE for the readings.
Jesus tells the parable of a landowner who leases his vineyard to tenants but retains the right to its harvest. When the time comes to collect the fruit, the landowner sends his servants, but the tenants beat, stone, and kill them. Finally, he sends his son, believing they will respect him. Instead, they kill the son as well, hoping to claim the vineyard for themselves.
Jesus then asks, “What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” The answer is clear: “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.”
It is obvious that Jesus places Himself in the role of the son who is killed. The chief priests and elders understand this, too. They recognize that Jesus is speaking about them—about their refusal to give God what is rightfully his and about the death they will soon bring upon him.
Because the religious leaders rejected Jesus and handed him over to death, the Kingdom of God has been entrusted to others. We are now the tenants of God’s vineyard.
So we must ask ourselves: Are we willing to accept that we are only tenants, not owners, of God’s creation? And are we willing to give God whatever He asks of us?