Readings: 2 Peter 1:2-7, Ps. 91:1-2,14-16, Mark 12:1-12
“What will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants, and give the vineyard to others.” (Mark 12:9)
There is the story of a man who went into a restaurant and, upon noticing a man sitting at the corner, decided to provoke him for no reason. He ordered drinks for everybody in the restaurant except for that man. He did this repeatedly, and the man remained calm. Surprised by his composure, he whispered to the waiter: “What is the matter with that black man over there?” The waiter responded, “Sir, that’s the owner of this restaurant.”
Like the tenants in Jesus’ parable, we often forget that we are tenants on earth and there is nothing we can do to “own” the world. Job captured this reality perfectly when he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return.” (Job 1:21). No matter how much you achieve on earth, you will leave everything behind one day. Never forget you are not yet home. This world is not ours; we are just passing through.
The landowner sent messengers to collect his harvest because he knew what the land could produce. God also expects fruits from us because He knows our true potential. In another passage, Jesus said. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16). Our first fruit for God is the holiness of life. As mentioned in today’s First Reading, other fruits include faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, godliness, and brotherly affection. These are the harvest God wants us to give.
The tenants in Jesus’ parable forgot they were only tenants, that the land could never be theirs. Nowadays, you hear phrases such as: “my body”, “my truth”, etc. We live in a world that has turned its back on God. A world where people live as if there is no God. It is not just your body; it is God’s temple. You don’t own yourself; you must account for your life before God. There is a day of reckoning. Jesus would say: “Who then is the faithful and wise steward, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. (Luke 12:42-43). Harvest Day is coming, a day you do not know. Are you prepared for it?
After stating the parable, Jesus asked: “What will the vineyard’s owner do?” In other words, you be the judge. Imagine you were God; what would you do? How would you treat humans who believe they don’t need to be accountable to their creator? This calls for an examination of conscience; we must judge ourselves and make necessary adjustments. On the other hand, we may decide to act like the Jewish leaders who attacked Jesus for saying the truth. Fighting a prophet does not prevent a prophecy from coming to pass. We can suppress the truth, pretend as if we will live on earth forever, but in the end, we cannot escape God’s judgment.
St. Justin the Martyr was born at the beginning of the second century in Nablus, Samaria, to a pagan Greek family. He was an earnest seeker of truth and studied many philosophical systems before being led from Platonism to Christianity. While remaining a layman, he accepted the duty of making the truth known and travelled from place to place, proclaiming the gospel.
In 151, he travelled from Ephesus to Rome, where he opened a school of philosophy and wrote defences and expositions of Christianity, which have survived to this day and are the earliest known writings of their kind. In the persecution of 165, in the reign of the emperor Marcus Aurelius, he was denounced as a Christian, arrested and beheaded. Like Justin, we must not be afraid to die for our beliefs.
Let us pray: O God, who through the folly of the Cross wondrously taught Saint Justin the Martyr the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ, grant us, through his intercession, that, having rejected deception and error, we may become steadfast in the faith. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Saint Justin, Martyr Liturgical Colour: Red. Bible Study: 2 Peter 1:2-7, Ps. 91:1-2,14-16, Mark 12:1-12)
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu