Homily for 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Once school started in the Fall, Jack and Jill thought it would be a nice treat to take the kids for an afternoon visit with their grandparents who had a farm. The children were looking forward to this visit that gave them a short break from homework and other responsibilities like cleaning up their rooms. Everyone was in good spirits. The drive was pleasant and the leaves on the trees were spectacular. Arriving in late afternoon, they watched as Grandpa gave a whistle and his dog herded the cows into the barn to be milked. They had never been on the farm at milking time and were greatly surprised. The youngest, Sally, exclaimed “Wow, that’s some dog. What’s her name?” Grandpa was getting a little forgetful and thought a minute, then asked, “Sally, what do you call that red flower that smells good and has thorns on the stem?” “A rose?” “That’s it!” Then grandfather turned to Grandma. “Hey Rose, what do we call this dog?”
Remembering and forgetting happens to everyone at times irrespective of age. Children in school have lots of new ideas and concepts to remember. When they cram for a test, they may forget something important. They won’t always get an A+, the consequence of forgetting may mean C+. Dad may not have remembered that Mom asked him to buy milk on his way home after work. In his eagerness to get home after a long day at the office, he forgot to get milk. Remembering and forgetting can be the benchmark of our later years especially if we don’t take memory pills!
The prophet, Isaiah, told a story to the children of Israel about their tragic failure to remember God’s loving care for them. The story is about his friend who went to great lengths to build a vineyard that was expected to yield the very best grapes. As it turned out, the yield was wild grapes. The children of Israel had forgotten God’s loving care for them and their refusal to respond to all that God had done for them. Something went very wrong deep within the grapes. God expected his chosen people to remember all that had been done for them and to build their lives on good judgment in their choices and justice in their decisions. Instead, their choices led to oppression and violence. Therefore, the Lord would destroy the vineyard. However, the Lord will not negate the covenant made, his love will again be given to His people. Another chance will be given to the community to respond with obedience and justice to the Lord.
In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus tells a story to the chief priests and elders of the people about a landowner who planted a vineyard. The vines yielded good grapes, but the leaders refused to give the produce to the owner. Instead, the leaders beat those who came on behalf of the owner to receive the produce. They even killed the owner’s son. We recognize that in this story the landowner is God, the tenants working the vineyard are the religious leaders, the son of the owner is Jesus, the grapes are the chosen people. This is another story of God’s love for his people. This time, rather than destroying the vineyard, it will be given to others who will return to the Lord a worthy and just produce at harvest time.
Today, God, who is love, continues to honor his covenant with mercy and forgiveness. The vineyard is the Church, the religious leaders are the Pope and his fellow bishops together with priests and other good men and women who tend the vine and its grapes – the laity. The vineyard is planted in midst of many different cultures some of which are antagonistic to the Church and others that simply co-exist with the church but have little to do with the vines and its grapes – those who have faith and follow Jesus.
What is happening in the Lord’s vineyard? Some of the vines are producing good grapes and other vines are producing sour grapes – apostates who have lost faith and have joined the unchurched. The tenants of the vineyard (the religious leaders-bishops) are pruning the vines – closing churches and combining parishes due to financial concerns and the loss of members. There are attempts to address the loss of faith among the members of the Church. For example the prophets in today’s Church (the Popes and other pastors for the past hundred years) have voiced the need to re-evangelize. This appears to be too little and too late. Even though the Church is in serious decline, the Lord continues to honor the covenants made with the Chosen People.
Our Lord remains in the Church today and will not let evil forces destroy it. His compassionate love offers mercy and forgiveness to all who continue to struggle in Faith. As he said to the chief priests and the elders of the people and so he says to us today: “the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” This is our hope!
Saint Paul in his letter to the Philippians also offers Hope. He writes “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and mind in Christ Jesus. … Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.”
Amid our struggle to remain faithful to the new covenant made in Christ, (namely his passion, death, and resurrection) we must not forget this is his promise to be with us as we often celebrate the Eucharist. Additionally, we must also remember the Gospel acclamation, “I have chosen you from the world, says the Lord, to go and bear fruit that will remain.” You and I have been called to work in his vineyard. If we forget who owns the vineyard, we will be in trouble as well. If we start to think that we are our own lord and master, we may forget that obedience to God is the only true way to achieve success. We are responsible for continuing the work of Jesus. Do not forget all that Jesus has done for you. Always remember to answer his call to work for peace and justice in his vineyard.