Know Yourself

Scripture/Bible:  "Hear another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. 34 When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; 35 and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. 37 Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.' 39 And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?" 41 They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons." 42 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures: 'The very stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?  43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it." Matt 21:33-43

Reflection:  The parable reveals two categories of people in God’s vineyard; the tenant and the servants.  Not all are called to servant hood and the many likewise are called to be faithful tenants of God’s vineyard.  The tenants also include the ruling and noble class among the tenants, those in authority and those overseeing. 

This parable seems to be a clear message for the Israelites who have rejected God made present to them through his servants and now one last time through his own Son, Jesus Christ. It brings out the reality of the people of Israel and their constant rejection of God and the ultimate rejection of Jesus as Son.

Similarly, Christ Jesus who established the church has now let out his vineyard again to other tenants’ who hopefully have learnt a lesson from their predecessors.  Among the majority of Christian who are  tenants he still sends his servants and they still keep getting persecuted and rejected on account of their roles as servants of the Gospel; here I am not referring to self styled servants who claim to be one.

We don’t seem to value the services of the servants because they call us to accountability, even by their mere presence, to the God to whom all things belong.  We become insecure in their presence and their company makes us nervous lest we be stripped of our tenancy rights if we have been found lacking.  This is so because we have not realized that we are mere stewards or tenants and we own nothing. Everything belongs to God and we are mere caretakers.

Since we want to posses and have fame and recognition we do not want the servant to get near us lest we be stripped of everything.

For it is enough to be a good tenant, detached from the things of life, having them and yet not being possessed by them, rendering thanks to God with a grateful heart for the privilege to serve him in the things that we have been given.

Prayer: "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." Luke 1:38

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