27th Sunday Year A
Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – God’s Vineyards
What is it with the Bible and its fixation on vineyards, vines and grapes? The week before last we had a vineyard owner looking to employ people to work in his vineyard and offering to pay them all the same, no matter how long they had worked. Last week we had the story of the two sons being sent to work in their father’s vineyard: one said Yes but didn’t go; the other said, No – but did.
And this week we have two readings and a psalm all referencing vineyards. We have Isaiah singing to his friend the song of his love for his vineyard; how he cared for it, tended it and prepared it to deliver sweet grapes but was given sour ones instead.
Our psalm speaks of a vine being brought out Egypt to be planted in a land God has cleared of all other nations, allowing it to spread out to the Sea: but then breaking down its boundary walls, allowing it to be invaded by wild animals and passers-by.
And our gospel goes on about another landowner who planted a vineyard after preparing the ground and setting up all of the equipment needed to produce fine wine. He leases it out to tenants who then take all of the produce and kill his rent-collectors including eventually his only son. So why this fixation on vines, vineyards and all things related?
Scripture speaks to the people with reference to the things they are familiar with. Throughout their history the Jewish people would have been in and around plantations and vineyards. They would have had to endure the burden of waiting to be hired for the day, the week or whatever period on a piece by piece basis. They would have related to a fair day’s pay for a fair days work.
They knew that Israel was compared to the sacred and blessed vine, chosen by God out of all others, cared for, nurtured and planted in ground where it could grow strong and produce much fruit. They also knew that the Israelites had consistently turned away from God and spurned his care and attention, decided that they knew better than him and instead of producing valuable and sweet fruit – had produced sour.
Jesus knew his scripture too and could make reference to it and to the times in which he lived where the pattern of employment in and around vineyards was still the norm. The queuing for work, the back-breaking work as a labourer on someone else’s land; producing goods for them and not for yourself and getting by on probably a pittance of a wage. He knew that his listeners would identify with these stories; they would be able to identify with the characters and the stories.
But he also knew that the points he was making, that of some people setting themselves up to be better than the rest, paying lip-service to the Law, doing the minimum required to get by and to allow them to lord it over the rest – these points would hit true too for the Pharisees and Sadducees. The people who at this time were trying to find ways to bring Jesus down for the very reason that he was highlighting their faults and failings.
Jesus used the life-examples around him to make his points so that ordinary people could understand the message he was offering – the need to look at what God is offering them – us – and to see what we have to do in return, what we have to give back.
So for us today, we may not know a great deal about vineyards or queuing for work or labouring in the fields but we do know about what God is offering us – his unconditional love, his eternal peace, his Son to save us for all eternity. We do know all of this. We also know that he sent his son to teach us to love one another just as his heavenly father loved him: that all we need to do to follow him is to love our neighbour as ourselves.
And yet, knowing all of this, what are we offering him in return? Where is our sweet and fully developed fruit? Where is our fair return of graces and blessings?
At this time of harvest-thanksgiving, what is the harvest we are offering back to Him? What time are we allocating to the promotion of his word? How are we seeking to right the wrongs that we see every day? Who are we working with to improve lives and situations that we know are unfair?
Being a Catholic is not just about coming to church each weekend and doing the minimum in relation to our church duties. It is about so much more than this – but all within our scope and our handling. If we all did a little bit more then together we can do a lot more. And when or if you think that you have no idea what I am talking about, then come and ask: ask where help is needed: ask what extra can be done: ask who needs support and ask how you can get involved. Not knowing is not a defence; it is not an acceptable response.
Asking and being prepared to get involved, that is positive, that is Christ-like. We are the vineyard; we are the vines; the fruit is our returns to God. But we are also the workers in that vineyard with the responsibility to make sure that this fruit is sweet and plentiful and a full and bountiful harvest.
Bidding Prayers –
1. That we work honestly and steadfastly to deliver to God the fruits of our faith, which we have nourished and cared for and joyfully created for Him. Lord in your mercy
2. That we seek opportunities to share the fruits of our faith with those less fortunate than us and enable them to rejoice in this shared harvest. Lord in your mercy
3. That all prisoners and their dependents are comforted by our prayers and supported by our caring actions and thoughts. Lord in your mercy
4. That there is an increase in peace across our troubled world, especially in Ukraine, the Middle East and the African nations. Lord in your mercy
5. That those in our parish who are sick in mind, body or spirit are refreshed and reinvigorated by our prayers and interventions. Lord in your mercy
6. That those who have died recently find eternal rest with the Lord. Lord in your mercy
7. That Mary joins her prayers with ours as we now pray together – Hail Mary, full of grace