St. Thomas The Apostle Roman Catholic Church issued the following announcement on Oct. 4

“Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.” – Matthew 21:43

Have you ever tried to explain something to someone, but they just don’t seem to get it? You repeat yourself over and over again, take different approaches, or even use different images, but to no avail. I’m sure that others have had that feeling when trying to explain computers and electronics to me! It’s just not something that I easily grasp.

For the second week in a row, Jesus, in the Gospel according to Matthew, is addressing the chief priests and the elders. And for the second Sunday in a row, he uses the image of a vineyard to make his point. Last week, it was the story of the two sons who were both asked to go into the vineyard to work. One refused, but eventually did what his father asked him. The second son said yes, but never went out to work. Jesus used this illustration to teach the leaders of the community about doing God’s will.

This Sunday, He uses the parable of the landowner, who plants a vineyard and leases it to tenants. However, out of greed and jealousy, they kill all who the landowner sends to collect the harvest, including his own son. He condemns those who acted in this way, and vows to lease the vineyard to other tenants who will tend to it and produce a fruitful harvest. At the end of the parable Jesus says to the chief priests and the elders, “…the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.” But they just didn’t get what Jesus was trying to tell them.

We know that all that we are and all that we have, find their origin in God’s goodness and generosity. Like the tenants in the parable, we are entrusted with what is God’s and are called to be good steward of the gifts, talents, and faith that is entrusted to us. And, through our Baptism, we are called to produce a fruitful harvest for God and His Kingdom. Are we doing that with our lives? Or do we allow greed, jealousy, consumption, and other self-interests to stifle lead a life of faith and charity?

The good news is that God is patient with us, and He stands ready to strengthen and guide us through His Word, the Sacraments, and through His Spirit which is given to us. Do you have the courage to be the good tenant of the vineyard who will take what has given and produce abundantly for the kingdom of God?

Original source can be found here.