Commentary on the Gospel of
The Vineyard of the Lord
The parable of the vineyard finds its origins in Isaiah (5:1-7).
In this parable, the vineyard symbolises the house of Israel, which the Lord (the master of the vineyard) had meticulously prepared for a bountiful harvest of grapes. However, the vineyard only produced wild grapes, disappointing the owner. As a result, the owner stripped down the vineyard and left it desolate, symbolising the suffering of the house of Israel.
In the Gospel parable, the owner of the vineyard entrusts it to tenant farmers. The allegorical elements are clear: God’s son has been rejected by his people and has died at their hands. The final outcome will be the destruction of the temple and the country.
In our times, we view violence as something abhorrent, yet it retains its force in the telling of a story. When one considers Jesus’ message as one of peace and respect, his treatment at the hands of the people whom he desired to save is tragic in every way.
The great tragedy of the vineyard parable is not just the rejection of Christ but the rejection of all that his gift of the Spirit makes possible. Humans are meant to be the glory of God, fully alive, embodying the qualities that the love of God infuses in us. This is the essence of the Easter gift. Turning away from Christ means turning away from the qualities that make life such a precious gift.
As the reading from Peter today states, God has bestowed on us everything necessary for a life of genuine piety. Let us pray that we persevere in faith with courage and love.
