Are you protected against Spiritual Redundancy?
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle A
(Isaiah 5: 1-7; Psalm 79; Philippians 4: 6-9; Matthew 21: 33-43)
‘Redundancy’ is a word that you hear so often these days! More and more people are being made redundant, given the current economic environment. Since my return to theUK, this August, after being away for some months, I have heard at least three people explicitly speak to me about either they themselves or someone else in their family having been made redundant recently. They have lost their jobs.
We should not allow the profit-driven corporate institutions, or the civil services controlled by budget-cuts after years of excessive spending, to make a statement on our self-worth as individuals. Redundancy might have nothing to do with individuals’ talents and skills. Simply, the game of Monopoly that is being played by the corporate world should not make us feel that we are worthless. To the people I have met in the past weeks, who have been made redundant, it might seem insensitive to repeat the words of the 2nd reading of today: “There is no need to worry…” (Phil 4:6), though some might find these words consoling. And those of us who are still at our jobs, we need to protect ourselves against redundancy.
In any case, the Word of God this morning talks to us about a different type of redundancy: spiritual redundancy. And this is what we want to reflect about.
Three parables of the Vineyard
In chapters 20 and 21 of the Gospel of Mathew we come across three parables; and all the three use the image of the vineyard. These parables, which we have heard read in these three Sundays (25th to 27th Sunday), have a sequence of teachings of Jesus.
1) Parable of the labourers in the vineyard (Mt 20:1-16) teaches us how God deals with us, human beings. His grace is equally available to everyone.
2) Parable of the two sons (Mt 21:28-32) teaches us how we could be responding to the invitation of God. We could respond with a ‘yes’ or ‘no’, not merely in words, but in our commitment to his grace. And,
3) Parable of the wicked tenants (Mt 21:33-43) – the gospel text of today – tells us about the consequence of our response to the opportunities offered by God.
So, here is a one-line summary: how God deals with us; how we could be responding to God; and what could be the consequence of our response.
It is interesting to note that the first parable is proclaimed by Jesus before he enters Jerusalem, and it is addressed generally to his disciples (Mt 19:28). The two other parables are addressed to the chief priests and the elders, and this, in the Temple(Mt 21:23), after the triumphal entry intoJerusalem(Mt 21:1-11).
In the context of the Gospel of Matthew, which is directed to a Jewish audience, the image of the vineyard has a clear allusion to the people of Israel. This is explicitly declared in the first reading of today from Prophet Isaiah (5:1-7). The Lord God laments about how the House of Israel has not produced fruits of justice and integrity. The Psalmist responds (as we did in our Responsorial Psalm) with a cry for help that is also coloured by sentiments of gratitude, repentance and hope – “And we shall never forsake you again: give us life that we may call upon your name; God of hosts, bring us back, let your face shine on us and we shall be saved” (Ps 79: 18-19).
What could this parable mean for us today?
Avoiding Spiritual Redundancy
The parable of the wicked tenants could be interpreted at different levels:
In the immediate context of his impending passion and death, Jesus seems to be foretelling through this parable how he will be thrown outside the city walls and be killed, as the tenants did to the son of the owner of the vineyard (Mt 21:38-39). He is also saying that the Father will vindicate him in time.
Secondly, considering the context of the early church where the Gospel of Matthew originated, when Christians had been thrown out of the synagogues, we can also say that, the Gospel writer is expressing a sense of hope that the Christian community will be defended.
At yet at another level, the parable is addressed to the leaders of the Jews, and its message could be extended to those who have responsibility for the believing community today. The church is the New Israel and the new vineyard. So, if those in responsibility use the gifts that they have been endowed with for their own benefit, then the care of the community will be given to others.
Finally, the parable could carry a deep and relevant meaning for each one of us. The parable invites us to consider our own response to the Grace of God. It warns us that we will become victims of our own choices. It is important to note that the words of condemnation come from the mouth of the listeners of the parable. At the end of the story, Jesus asks his hearers what they think the owner of the vineyard will do (Mt 21:40). It is they who say: those wretches will be put to a wretched end, and the vineyard will be leased to other tenants who will give him the produce at harvest time. Jesus then turns their own judgment against themselves: in the same way, “thekingdom ofGod will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit” (Mt 21:43). This denial of privilege is what I called, ‘Spiritual Redundancy’. And it is a consequence of our own choices.
The way of avoiding redundancy, on the other hand, is to show enthusiasm and passion about what we are called to live – our Christian vocation. This could be by going beyond the fulfilment of the bare minimum. It could be by keeping ourselves abreast in spiritual matters. It could be by living the words ofSt Paul:
“Fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise…. Then the God of peace will be with you” (Phil 4: 8-9).