Parable of the Vineyard

Monday, June 5, 2017
9th Week in
Ordinary Time
1st Reading: Tb 1:3, 2:1a-8
Gospel: Mark 12:1-12
Using parables, Jesus went on to say, “A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a hole for the wine press and built a watch tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenants and went abroad.
“In due time he sent a servant to receive from the tenants his share of the fruit. But they seized the servant, struck him and sent him back empty-handed. Again the man sent another servant. They also struck him on the head and treated him shamefully. He sent another and they killed him. In the same way they treated many others; some they struck and others they killed. One was still left, his beloved son. And so, last of all, he sent him to the tenants, for he said: ‘They will respect my son.’
“But those tenants said to one another: ‘This is the one who is to inherit the vineyard. Let’s kill him and the property will be ours.’ So they seized him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. Now, what will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”
And Jesus added, “Have you not read this text of the Scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected has become the keystone. This was the Lord’s doing; and we marvel at it.” (…)
THE GOSPEL IN OUR LIFE EXPERIENCE
Today’s Gospel is an allegory. The vineyard refers to Israel, the farmers to its religious leaders like the Pharisees, the owner of the vineyard to God, while the servants to the prophets. The beloved son refers to Jesus (1, 11: 9, 7; Mat 3, 17; 17, 5; Lk 3, 22: 9, 35). The punishment of the tenants in the story refers to the looming punishment threatening the religious leaders, while the transfer of the vineyard to others refers to the fate of the people of the new Israel.
Jesus’ listeners already knew of a similar allegory from the Old Testament. The Prophet Isaiah had written:

“My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside; he spaded it, cleared it of stones, and planted the choicest vines; within it he build a watchtower, and hewed out a wine press. Then he looked for the crop of grapes but what it yielded was wild grapes. Now inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, (…) what more was there to do for my vineyard that I had not done? … Now I will let you know what I mean to do with my vineyard. …Yes, I will make it a ruin; it shall not be pruned or hoed, but overgrown with thorns and briers; I will command the clouds not to send rain upon it” (Isaiah 5:1-7).
God continues to take care of us like a vineyard. And He is asking us this same question: “What more was there to do for my vineyard that I had not done?” – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., DM

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