Tenants in the Vineyard

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today involve us in a journey in which we live as members of the Body of Christ. The parenesis of Paul to the Philippians is compared by Friar Jude Winkler to the last minute advice of a parent to a child who is going away from home. Peace in the life of the child is to be realized by continuing to live as taught in the family. Friar Jude emphasizes the need for disciples of Jesus to remain on guard against filling our lives and minds with junk which has no beauty or grace. The journey throughout the Gospel texts of October is, according to Ignacio Castuero, an opportunity to hear loudly and clearly that tribalism must be abandoned. The Great Commandment of love of God and neighbour will be the Gospel text at the end of this month. Paddy Gilger, S.J. shows us an view of the Gospel from Matthew about the parable of the tenants which challenges us to hear the message of prophets yesterday and today about the our status as both sinners and loved. As Rev. Dr. Janet H. Hunt notes, we are taking the lives of those sent to collect the rent when we adopt the attitude that the vineyard is mine or I have worked to receive it. Don Schwager understands that God entrusts his gifts and grace to each of us and he gives us work to do in his vineyard — the body of Christ. The sharpness of the message in the Text from Isaiah that God has not found the fruit He seeks in His Vineyard is not a condemnation of one tribe or tradition but it is a challenge all the people of God to live the parenesis of Paul on peace.

Links to the commentators are here