God’s harvest

Gospel: Mt 21:33-43,45-46
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/030124.cfm

It is easy to dismiss the parable of the tenants as being explicitly about the chief priests and elders, but what if it’s about us as well? All we have and all that has been given to our care is like a vineyard from God. God gives us the supplies we need to do what we do. Yes, we may do the tending, but we are still only tenants for the Divine and therefore the harvest is God’s.

Like the tenants though, we can too easily take the harvest as if it’s our own. We overlook that the soil, the seed, the sun, the water, and the rest of what we need is provided by a different source. We make our claim to the harvest through our competitive natures, our sense of entitlement, our lack of generosity, and our lack of concern for the needs of others. We earned it, right?

All we have in life was given to us by God. We are called to share it. People come our way in life needing our love and resources like those sent to vineyards for part of the harvest. God calls us to be present for them and not cast them away. The stone the builder rejected has become the cornerstone. God comes to us in unexpected ways and through unexpected people.

For the Kingdom of God is given to them who produce its fruits. It’s not just a good harvest, but how it is shared. We are called to be both good stewards and to share the harvest with others as if it were given to us to share.