FRUITFUL TENANTS
Isaiah 5:1–7; Ps. 80; Phil. 4:6–9; Matthew 21:33–43
1. Today’s gospel reading presents us with the relationship between landlords and tenants. The Bible calls it the parable of the wicked tenants, which directly expresses the landlord’s displeasure with the behavior of the tenants. Oftentimes, tenants get to complain a lot about landlords the same way landlords complain about tenants. Whichever way, the reality is that both landlords and tenants are all tenants before the Eternal Landlord, and our behavior will determine if we shall be harbored in paradise or not.
2. Moreso, in the first reading, the Lord laments over a vineyard that he planted that produced bad fruits. It’s like a caring landlord lamenting over the misconduct of his tenants. In fact, the vineyard in the reading represents all the good the Lord has done, but instead of gratitude, holiness, and worship, the Israelites sinned against him. Thus, the Lord leased them out for destruction so that their enemies would overrun them. Let’s examine ourselves and see how often we betray the good done to us. We act badly towards the person who is helping us or has helped us.
3. In the gospel, using the parable of the wicked tenants, Jesus allegorically describes the failure of the chosen people of God to produce fruits of righteousness, justice, and mercy. The best way to express our gratitude to God is by bearing fruits of the kingdom. We are to produce fruits of the Spirit to foster the course of the kingdom. The Lord says in Matthew 7:19 that “every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” As tenants, let us be faithful and fruitful.
4. In the second reading, St. Paul urges us to bear fruit of the kingdom through acts of nobility, goodness, integrity, purity, and righteousness. We can’t be fruitful if we don’t curb greed. The tenants were greedy, and so at the sight of the landlord’s son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.” It dawns on me that some people are just there looking for who they will kill and possess their inheritance; many are skimming to push others out of office to take over their position. For example, Cain and Abel, Jacob and Esau, and David plot towards Uriah. These were wicked and crooked tenants. Beloved, be noble, not terrible.
5. Again, we are told that the wicked tenants refused to pay their rent; rather, they beat up the rent collectors. We must learn to be people of integrity who are faithful to agreements and faithful to vows. We often treat caretakers very badly; we disrespect ministers and drag them into the mud. Beloved, we are tenants in this world, and the day will come when we will hand over our produce to God, the Eternal Landlord. What will happen to us when our rent on earth expires?
6. Lastly, today’s parable also reminds us of the need to accept Christ’s message. The Pharisees and the Scribes rejected his message; Christ spoke to them plainly; he spoke to them in parable, all to no avail. Thus, He said to them, “The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner stone.” Jesus is the rejected stone whom God made to be the cornerstone of salvation (Acts 4:8–12). What is your attitude towards God’s message? What is your attitude towards the Landlord’s instructions?
Let us pray
Almighty ever-living God, who in the abundance of your kindness surpass the merits and the desires of those who entreat you, pour out your mercy upon us to pardon what conscience dreads and to give what prayer does not dare to ask. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen
Fr. Daniel Evbotokhai
