Twenty-seventh Sunday October 2, 2011

Isaiah 5:1-7 Psalm: 80     Philippians 4:6-9   Matthew 21:33-43 

The picture that comes from our Liturgy of the Word is “ the fruit of the vine and the work of human hands. It is a picture of the Vineyard and those working in it. The main theme is

• although Salvation is universal
• although Salvation is freely given
• Salvation should not be taken for granted
• Salvation should not be presumed as a right.

Isaiah story of the Vineyard begins with an idyllic situation and condition. The Vineyard is on fertile ground. It has been cleared of stones. It has high quality vine shoots. Furthermore, there are ideal conditions for making wine. The grapes do not have to be bruised in transportation. The wine press is on site and so are the vats to store the wine. The only thing left is the harvest. But that is not to be!  The original song of the Vineyard was a song of joy at the harvest feast. However, Isaiah gives it a twist. It now becomes a statement of God’s Judgment on the House of Israel.

Our response gives us the meaning of the Parable-Picture.  “The Vineyard of the Lord is the House of Israel.” God had given them a land rich with milk and honey. God had dispersed their enemies. God had allowed them to build their temple in security. God had sent them prophets who would teach them the covenant. Now all they had to do was: To act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with god. But that was not to be!  The Psalm is not a judgment decree, but rather a prayer for pardon and deliverance.

Today we know that if we do not keep the rules, we will suffer the penalties. If we do not read the manual carefully, and try to work a machine it will crash and you could get injured.  In the time of Isaiah, the common vision was: You disobeyed the commands, and God would punish you. Here the vineyard would be destroyed, the fences pulled down and everything left in ruin.

The reading from Isaiah and the Gospel have a common picture: the Vineyard. However, the reading from St. Paul ties in with the idea that Salvation is not something we can presume upon. Paul is warning the Philippians about the false prophets that arrived on the scene. These exhibit an atmosphere of joy. They are already in heave. They have attained salvation. The Cross is irrelevant in their daily life. They are false in the sense, that although Salvation is freely given, it is yet to be attained.  Paul recommends that his community from Philippi model their lives on him. He says this not in arrogance, but in the sure knowledge that he himself has salvation in and through Christ.

The Gospel has different levels as we have seen in many of the preceding Sundays. At the first level, there is a simple parable directed to the Scribes and Pharisees. These are supposed to be leaders and guides to the House of Israel. If they are blind to the Word of God sent to them by the Father, how could they see the true way? How could they possibly be leaders and guides? Jesus is the Word of God that was rejected.

We have a second parable about the Cornerstone that was rejected. The Parable of the Vineyard does not interlock with this parable, but the Oral tradition put them together. God would use the mistakes of the Scribes and Pharisees, and still achieve the Salvation of all.

 Finally, the third level of the parable, is the one painted by the Evangelist. This is his finishing touch for his Jewish audience. God will not go back on the promises made to the Chosen People, but that should not make the Jews presumptuous. They still had to be the People of the Covenant by keeping the commandments.

Story:  This reminds me of a lady at the Subway. She gave a homeless man a quarter, with the words, “Now don’t waste it on drink.” The arrogance of the woman! She considered her wealth, her education, her success were all her own achievement. This was her right. This was due to her. Then as if to add injury to the insult, she gives a quarter which would not get you a glass of water today, much less a bottle of beer. Her further presumption was the homeless man was on the street because he was an alcoholic. Sometimes, the only exercise we do is “jumping to conclusions.”

• Salvation is freely given. But do not presume upon it.
• False prophets think they have already attained salvation. It is yet to come!
• Salvation is a gift not to be snatched at as if it were a right. Receive it with a grateful heart!