The world is a vineyard

27th Sunday in ordinary time, cycle A
Gospel reading: MATTHEW 21 : 33 - 43 ( NRSV )
Photo courtesy of Green Catholic


The world is a vineyard. We are the workers while the Lord is the owner. The owner went on a journey, now he is coming back to ask for his share. But the workers become violent and do harm to the messengers of the owner. They even kill the son of the owner. The owner becomes indignant and slaughters the bad workers. He also entrusts the vineyard to the responsible ones.

What have we done with the Lord's world? Have we been good stewards of his creation? Have we done what we are supposed to do in this world? To be good stewards simply means to recognize that everything in this world is not ours to keep, hold, possess. Everything belongs to God. Secondly, to be good stewards means to ask the Owner what we are going to use these gifts for. We should not have ready-made answers. Everything should be for His disposal. Finally, to be good stewards means for us to be "fruitful and multiply", both referring to the human family and to take care of resources so everyone will have an abundance of food and blessings. Thus, any mode to thwart population or to consider the next generation of children "a burden" is definitely mute and academic. We should do our part because that is the very reason of our existence. In taking care of God's creation, we are fulfilling our basic vocation - to love, adore, and serve our God.