CYCLE A 27TH ORDINARY 2011 Isaiah 5:1-7, Philippians 4:6-9, Matthew 21: 33-43 The Big Man in basketball owns the lane. And defensively one of the greatest, sweetest, most desired plays he can make, is to REJECT some ones shot as they drive the lane in an attempt to make a basket. At least in my own mind, I was one of those SHOT BLOCKING MACHINES. It wasn’t until years later that this prowess I had came to be used in a dream I had one night. As the game was well in progress and nearing it’s end, one of my most detested arch rivals looked me in the eye and I ‘INVITED’ him to come to the hoop. Only I stood in his way. As he went up and his shot was off, I elevated to a height above the rim and as I started and completed the vicious SWAT at the ball, I awoke to the crashing of the lamp against the bedroom wall. Need less to say, my territory was defended and my opponent REJECTED. The liturgical year has many themes. (Repentance, Sin, suffering etc) We are in the middle week of 3 where the readings and the Gospel parables are used to bring to mind a theme of REJECTION. (The parables of the 2 sons, the Vineyard Owner/Tenant and the Wedding Invitation) The lesson we are to learn is that God has infinite goodness, mercy and patience, but is often REJECTED by man. At the same time we are to know the unsound depths of wickedness and ingratitude that man can sink to, will cause God to REJECT man. Today, in the Old Testament reading from Isaiah, the theme of REJECTION was addressed to the Israelites. By using the image of a vineyard, with Israel presented as the VINEYARD and God the OWNER, the Israelites who lived in wine-growing country, would be quick to get the point. They knew the vineyard owner had to work hard in setting a goal to make his vineyard fertile and productive. There is the digging, clearing, building, planting, pruning, harvesting and the wine production. They also knew that a vineyard must produce SWEET grapes to make the FINEST wine. And if the vineyard produced WILD grapes that produce a poor wine, they knew that the Vineyard Owner, would lay waste to the vineyard and start all over. Historically, the Israelites knew of Gods care for them; from the call of Abraham (1800 B.C.) to form them as a nation, to the journey to freedom from slavery in the Exodus (1300 B.C.). In memorial the events were RITUALLY handed down from generation to generation. But to no avail, the prophet Isaiah told them today, the return on the investment made by God from Leaders and People alike, for this divine benevolence and love was a RELUCTANT, COLD service at best, and a complete forgetfulness of Him and past favors at its worst. The Israelite nation produced WILD GRAPES instead of SWEET, or more to the point, VICE instead of VIRTUE. So Isaiah told them this generation of grapes was being REJECTED. Isaiah was the prophet for the Israelites around 721 BC. Shortly after that Judah the north kingdom went into Assyrian Exile and in 586 BC, Israel was exiled to Babylonia. This image of a vineyard, carefully laid out and cared for by its owner, expressed very vividly the Chosen People's relationship with God; and therefore Jesus repeats similar usage of it in today's gospel. Jesus was addressing the Chief Priests and Elders, His arch rivals, as the TENANTS of the Vineyard. He reminded them that God had placed Israel, a fertile and fully-equipped VINEYARD, in their care. He also reminded them, that the OWNER expected the TENANTS to care for the vineyard just as he would. Their task was to prepare Israel for the Messiah, who would bring them to an ETERNAL HOME in God’s own Kingdom. As any good Owner would do, He gave the Tenants his Help. They had His protection, they could use His revelation, and live in the temporary homeland of their own in Canaan. All he asked in return was their cooperation. But the lesson of the Parable relates how the leaders claimed the vineyard as their own. And not only refused to give any return to the true owner, they REJECTED all help and direction from every prophet and soon would REJECT and murder the owners Son. The final lesson of the day is, we in the church are the successors of the first Gentile followers of Christ. We too have been called to work in God's vineyard. Are we working honestly and devotedly? Are we producing the grapes and the wine that our divine Master expects of us? If our answer is "YES, I AM living a true Christian life, I AM working for God's honor and glory and for my own eternal salvation," then we can say a heartfelt "thank you" to our merciful and patient Father. But if our answer is "NO," then let us pay heed to today's lesson about rejection. The ‘Exile’ that happened to the PEOPLE of Israel, or the ‘Replacement’ to the CHIEF PRIESTS and ELDERS, can and will happen to unfaithful Christians who REJECT God by persevering in our infidelity and disobedience. Salvation is something we work on every day. To that end we have been presented 2 major areas where Rejection of God rears it UGLY HEAD. October is Respect Life Month and we are called through Prayer and Action to help people turn back to God. There is probably nothing more abhorrent to God than the killing of the innocent baby. Then we should also be encouraged to work on those who Reject Jesus by not being faithful to the church…we are called to pray or invite them back to faithfulness and receive especially the sacraments of Eucharist and Reconciliation. There probably is nothing more sad to Jesus when people reject receiving these signs of His love and Grace. While we have time to make things right with God…let us do it. Remember…the BIG GUY ( point to the sky) owns the Lane.
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