When the chief priests and Pharisees hear today’s Gospel, they wanted to arrest Jesus for it. They realized that the unfaithful, possessive, and murderous tenants of the vineyard were them: Jesus was warning them that because they were not being faithful to God the privileged place they held over all the people of the Earth would be taken away and given to others. Gentiles, even. And praise God, otherwise we would not have the grace poured out upon us, that we have inherited from others over the centuries! While we may think this Gospel is more of a history lesson than it is something that speak to us today, let us not be so sure of ourselves, for our Gospel still serves as a lesson of warning. It is so easy for us all to take things for granted, to look so much on the faults, failures, and shortcomings of others so as to miss such things in ourselves.
If we compare what even the most lukewarm Christian among us has inherited by their baptism alone and compare it to all that even the high priest of Jerusalem had inherited by being part of the Covenant, it is night and day. Yet we take our baptism, our confirmation, and even so many of our Holy Communions too often for granted. Which of the Pharisees or chief priests could address God in prayer as “father,” as we do, and it would be true? Not a single one but even the worst baptized person in the world could, in a moment of contrition, address God as Father and speak the truth, and gain not merely the ear but the very Heart of God. While the High Priest could enter into the Temple and offer prayers and sacrifices, even the most sinful among those Confirmed is a Temple of the Holy Spirit, who there adores the image and likeness of Himself in which we are all created, and whenever we ourselves pray intercedes with inexpressible groanings (Rom 8:26). And though one priest, once a year, had the privilege of offering incense behind the veil, in the presence of the Ark of God, he may as well have been a million miles from God compared to even the lowest-born Christian receiving Holy Communion in a state of grace, who is not merely close to God, but one with Him.
Therefore, let us hear today’s Gospel as a lesson of warning, and be inspired to examine not only our conscience, but the kind of tenants and stewards we have been with the vast riches entrusted to us as Christians. For Jesus says, It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain (John 15:16), so if the Son of the Landowner comes and we have fruit to offer, more will be given, and [we] will grow rich, but from anyone who has not, even what he has will be taken away (Matt 13:12).