Song and Parable of the Vineyard 27 Sunday A

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Scripture: Lectionary # 140 Sunday, Oct. 1, 2011: Isaiah 5:1-7 Psalm 80:9.12.13-14.15-16.19-20 Philippians 4:6-9. Matthew 21:33-43:

Picture a vineyard surrounded by a strong white wall. This will give you an entry into the first reading and the Gospel as well as the Psalm and its Response. And if you have the time, look into the other Gospels to see the same image used in the parable that is our reading for today from St. Matthew’s Gospel. (see Mark 12:1-2; Luke 20:9-19). These Gospels, the Synoptic ones, all have as their source the first reading taken from the Prophet Isaiah who applies the image of the vineyard to the Chosen People of God, the Israelites. Jesus adapts it to his immediate listeners who are the leaders of Jerusalem and the ones who follow them. The parable is interpreted in an allegorical way which means that each symbol and each character is applied to specific meanings rather than the simple parable that emphasizes only one point.

By now, we know that Matthew associates the parables with the kingdom of God by often using the expression “the kingdom of God is like”. Most often he uses the more reverent Jewish way of saying it, “The Kingdom of Heaven is like.” These parables have an eschatological perspective about them which can be immediate or for the present. The kingdom of God or of Heaven is then here within us; however, the parables of the kingdom more frequently have a future application to the Second Coming of Jesus as the judge of all humankind from its beginning till its final time. All of these kingdom parables are also framed within the plan of God which we call “salvation history.”

The vineyard represents Israel or the People of God; the wall the surrounding walls of Jerusalem. The servants (slaves in the original Greek) are the prophets, the son is the Son of Man (Jesus). Matthew puts the parable within the context of Jesus’ death outside the walls of Jerusalem on Calvary.

Without losing any of its force, the parable is able to be applied to ourselves and not only to those surrounding Jesus during his historical time. Parables have a far reaching dimension to them that is timeless and is meant to stir the reader or listener no matter when he or she is alive and hearing it. Thus it applies to us. We may wish to ask ourselves where we fit in the parable or how does this parable speak to me at this time in my personal relationship with God and with my neighbor?