OCTOBER 4, 2020
TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A
First Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7
Second reading: Philippians 4:6-9
Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43
Jesus used a lot of parables to teach. There are two kinds of parables – window parables and mirror parables. A window parable is a story that teaches about God or the kingdom of God. Just as the name suggests, it is a window through which we get an insight into the mystery of God or His kingdom. Most window parables begin with the words, “the kingdom of God is like ….” Mirror parables on the other hand are parables as the name suggests that act as mirrors through which we see ourselves. They give us insight into ourselves. These parables are designed in such a way that listeners are able to see themselves in one or more of the characters in the parable.
God Himself is the owner of the vineyard. The vineyard is the people of Israel. The vineyard tenants are the leaders of the people. The first group of servants he sent are the early prophets God sent to Israel. The second group of slaves are the later prophets, then we have the son of the owner who represents Jesus Christ. The parable mirrors the history of the people of God. Verse 4 says, “what more was there to do that I have not done for my vineyard?” The conclusion of the parable which is not included in the Gospel today, says, “the chief priests and the Pharisees knew that Jesus was talking about them.”
Why does Jesus address this parable to them? They had forgotten that God is the owner of the vineyard and thought it belonged to them. The aim of this parable is to warn them to become better stewards they are called to be. You will think they will repent, but they will only become worse, ready to finish up the son of the vineyard owner.
It is important for us in our reflection on this passage to ask, “did Jesus intend this parable for the Jewish leaders alone, Church leaders or to all of us?” Keep in mind aim of this parable is to remind the audience that they are mere stewards and to become good stewards. Good stewards produce fruits from what is entrusted to them and are always ready to give account of it. The next important question we must ask is, “has God entrusted anything to us?” Yes, so much. Like Israel, God has given us the gift of faith. ‘We did not choose Him, He chose us and appointed us to bear fruit, fruit that will last.’ Israel was to be the light of the nations. It was the plan of God bless the whole world through Israel.
How will you react if God sends for you to give account of what He has entrusted to you? This will include the many graces He has bestowed upon you, your very life and your wealth. As long as we are not producing fruit for the Kingdom, we are joining with those who killed the heir. And when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will He do to those wicked servants?
Anxiety is a huge problem. In the second reading, Paul is writing from his imprisonment, probably in Rome. He is writing to encourage the Philippians, to teach them to be at peace no matter what the circumstance they might find themselves. He emphasizes something in this passage that is very important especially for us in our context of persecution and trials – freedom from anxiety. When Paul says, ‘have no anxiety,’ although he does not quote Jesus directly, he is nonetheless echoing the teaching of Jesus from the sermon on the mount. In Mathew 6 :25 Jesus says, do not be anxious about what you are to eat or drink or wear, the birds of the air, do not sow or reap but you heavenly Father takes care of them. In verse 34 he says, ‘therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day’s own trouble be sufficient for the day.’
When Jesus says do not be anxious, he was making a suggestion but a command. Paul does the same thing here. He makes it an imperative, a command – ‘have no anxiety about anything.’
The question is, how do we achieve freedom from anxiety? What is the secret to freedom from anxiety? Thankfully Paul gives us not just the command but how to do that. He says, “have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.” We find two things here – prayer and thanksgiving. Many of us will recognize that prayer is important but we tend to forget the second part. Our prayer has to be, not just with supplications asking, I need this, I need that, petitioning, but with thanksgiving, i.e with gratitude. The Greek word for thanksgiving is “eucharistia” which later became the word for the last supper, thanksgiving for the incarnation, thanksgiving for the redemption and all the eternal rewards won by Christ.
So, how does this free us from anxiety? Paul recognizes that if the Philippians can not only ask for good things but show gratitude no matter what circumstance they find themselves, they are going to cultivate freedom from anxiety. This is because when you are thankful to God no matter what happens, it gradually gives you the grace to detach from things and situations so that your peace and happiness is no longer contingent on things around you. As long as your peace and happiness is contingent on things going well around you, you will never have true peace because in this world, everything will not always go well.
Paul himself is writing from prison with his death in view, but he has peace. It is not a natural peace. It is a supernatural peace, a gift of grace. That is why he says, “the peace that passes all understanding will control your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” If our lives can be rooted in Christ, and we can give thanks no matter what happens, then we would have found the secret to a peace that passes all understanding, the secret to freedom from anxiety.
Happy Sunday
Fr Chidi Onwuka