Commentaries

27^th Sunday – A

Matthew 21: 33 – 43

The Kingdom of God given to a people that will produce its fruit

It must be really nice to be the tenants in this parable. They have it made. The landowner does not just lease them the land and they would have to do all the work. Instead, it is the landowner who plants the vineyard. He then puts a hedge around it to protect it. Next, he digs a wine press. And he even builds a tower as a place for the guards to keep watch over the vineyard as well as a place of refuge in bad weather. Such is God’s care for his vineyard, which as we learn from the first reading from Isaiah 5:1 – 7 is Israel of the first covenant and the New Israel of the new covenant.

This New Israel is the Kingdom of God, and it is now entrusted to us. God does not just hand it to us uncultivated. God gives to us a vineyard ready to bear fruits. So much does God trust us.

The Kingdom is in our hands, unworthy as they are. The corner of the Kingdom entrusted to us could be our families, our circle of friends, our neighborhood, and our church community? Will we do our best to cooperate with God and make sure the vineyard produces fruits?