Reflection: Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

Friday of the Second Week of Lent – Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

Today Jesus tells us another parable.  This parable is about a landowner and his vineyard.  The landowner planted the vineyard and then he built a wall around it to protect it the animals.   He also dug a winepress and built a tower.  After the landowner had all of this completed, he leased his property to some of the local farmers who were given the responsibility of tending his vineyard and his home while he was gone for several months.

As the time for harvesting the grapes drew near, the landowner dispatched several of his servants to bring him his share of the crop.  However, when the servants arrived, the tenants took them and beat one servant, killed another and then stoned a third servant. When the landowner received this news, he was outraged and saddened. 

After a time, he decided to send another group of servants to deal with his tenants.  This time he thought it wise to send twice as many servants.  Yet, the results were the same: all of these servants were killed also.  When the owner received this news, he finally decided to send his own son.  He thought the tenants would respect his son.  However, when the tenants saw the landowner’s son coming, they decided that this was their great opportunity.  If they killed the owner’s son, then they could seize his inheritance.  That is what they did.

As Jesus was telling his listeners this parable, he knew that this scenario would be played out in his own life.  He realized that the Pharisees were plotting against him and, most likely, they were planning to kill him.  This parable was a foreshadowing of what was to come.  Were the Pharisees taken aback by Jesus’ astuteness? 

If we had been in Jesus’ shoes, I wonder if we would have had the courage to continue on this journey.  Matthew makes it clear that Jesus knew that likely he would be killed, but he stayed true to his call.  Despite the threat, He continued to preach and teach.  Today may we draw the strength from Jesus to be true to “our call — whatever that call may be.  Jesus will walk with us, guide us, and strengthen us.  May we walk with Jesus today and every day.