Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
“Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat,
another they killed, and a third they stoned.
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones,
but they treated them in the same way.
Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking,
‘They will respect my son.’
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,
‘This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?”
They answered him,
“He will put those wretched men to a wretched death
and lease his vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the produce at the proper times.”
Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Therefore, I say to you,
the kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”
Produce Fruit
The Gospel is the story of Jesus telling the chief priests and the elders the parable of the owner of the vineyard who goes away and rents it to tenants. At harvest time, the owner sends servants to collect the produce, but the tenants beat them and even kill them. Finally, the owner sends his son: “They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.”
When I reflect on this, I hear Jesus speaking of the prophets that the Father had sent to Israel over the years – who the people rejected and even killed. Then, Jesus foretells His rejection and death – as we know now, they threw Him outside Jerusalem and killed Him on a cross.
How does Jesus try to help the chief priest and the elders see what He is saying? As Jesus often does, He quotes Scripture to them! Recall that when Jesus was tempted by Satan in the desert, three times He quoted Scripture to Satan. Here Jesus quotes from Psalm 118: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes.” Jesus is telling us that both studying and reflecting on Scripture are vital to our spiritual lives!
Jesus then tells the chief priests and scribes: “The Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” Jesus is talking to me and you as well. To enter the Kingdom of God, I must produce its fruit! Not fruit for my earthly pleasure, honor, or wealth. I must produce fruit for the Kingdom of God!!
Come, Holy Spirit! Give me ears that hear the word of God and the discernment to do His will and produce fruit for His Kingdom! Amen.
Find More Catholic Gospel Reflections
The Liturgical Sense of The Readings at Mass – Year A by David L. Gray
Food for the Soul: Reflections on the Mass Readings (Cycle A) (Food for the Soul Series)
Breaking the Bread: A Biblical Devotional for Catholics Year A
The Word of the Lord: Reflections on the Mass Readings for Solemnities and Feasts
Through the Year with Jesus: Gospel Readings and Reflections for Children
Image: Photo by Boudewijn Boer on Unsplash
