Mt 21:33-43
Do you recall the expression: When you point a finger at someone, three fingers point back at you? It seems easy to identify the wicked tenants in the Gospel with the priests, scribes, and Pharisees. Too easy. Jesus singles out those in authority who have misused that authority to the detriment of others. Moreover, they fail to take correction from the prophets or God’s Only Son, who as the son in this Gospel, they put to death.
However, another insight into this passage is to consider the state of the vineyard which the owner provided for the tenants. This was a well-cared for property which the tenants were given responsibility to maintain proper stewardship over. It was not their property. It belonged to someone else. The tenants were simply asked to care for it and make it fruitful. This speaks of the responsibility over all creation with which we are entrusted as well. Several days ago, we celebrated the feast of St. Francis of Assisi. In describing this saint, Pope Francis remarked, that St. Francis “invites us to see nature as a magnificent book in which God speaks to us and grants us a glimpse of his infinite beauty and goodness” (Laudato Si). Do we see ourselves and other human beings as glimpses of God’s infinite beauty? Do we see creation as a gift to us from our loving God? Or do we see nature and others as things to exploit?
Our world originally was given to humankind in an ecologically pristine state. Through Baptism we were in a spiritually pristine state. It is in our power to refrain from polluting both. Will we be good tenants?
Sister Marcella Louise Wallowicz, CSFN
