Sunday Reflections
27th Sunday year A
I am only a steward not a master
✠ A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 21:33-43
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people, ‘Listen to another parable. There was a man, a landowner, who planted a vineyard; he fenced it round, dug a winepress in it and built a tower; then he leased it to tenants and went abroad. When vintage time drew near he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his servants, thrashed one, killed another and stoned a third. Next he sent some more servants, this time a larger number, and they dealt with them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them. “They will respect my son” he said. But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, “This is the heir. Come on, let us kill him and take over his inheritance.” So they seized him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They answered, ‘He will bring those wretches to a wretched end and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the produce to him when the season arrives.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures:
It was the stone rejected by the builders
that became the keystone.
This was the Lord’s doing
and it is wonderful to see?
‘I tell you, then, that the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.’
1. Today’s readings focus on the need to give account for every opportunity that we have received. We are all used to stories of failed investments. If one has not been involved one certainly knows at least someone who invested much in a project only to see the project collapse because those entrusted with it were not accountable. What the prophet Isaiah (5:1-7) presents in today’s first reading is therefore something that we can all relate to. He used the image of the unproductive vine to convey God’s disappointment with unaccountable attitude of the Chosen people. In the Old Testament scriptures, the relationship between God and the Israelites is compared to that between a vine owner and the vine. A vine owner dedicates all his resources to the vine with the hope that his effort will pay off at the harvest time. In our first reading, God went extra mile to plant a choice vine on a fertile soil only to get a poor harvest. In this is manifested the caring love of God that was not reciprocated. It was a failed investment.
2. The idea of Israel being a failed investment for God comes up again in today’s gospel. Jesus, using the same analogy of the vine showed how stewards can frustrate a project. This time around his attention shifted from the people to their leaders. The parable was addressed to the chief priests and elders. Using a simple parable of the wicked tenants who not only refused to be accountable but also committed murder in order to keep for themselves a property that does not belong to them, Jesus teaches them that they are stewards not owners of God and his kingdom. As stewards they must be ready to give account of their stewardship. We too can relate to this parable. There are so many stories of stewards plotting to kill a property owner in order to take over the property. We have heard stories of Nigerian men killing their wives in the US because their wives attempted to dispossess them of their properties.
3. This parable says a lot to those who are leaders to all who enjoy some uncommon privileges. God has chosen them to minister to his people. He has endowed them with honours and privileges as the leaders of his people. Now, what does God get in return for his blessings? Some of them speak like God, act arrogantly and even sinfully. God warns them to reciprocate his love or be ready to lose their position to others.
4. As with the leaders so also with the people. Nigeria is blessed more than any other country in Africa. Yet the country is filled with thieves and marauders. Rogues are holding the keys of the national treasury and the development of the people that God desired by blessing the country is not seen. What we see is few individuals living like gods while the majority wallows in poverty. Most Nigerians pray to be given the opportunity to power so that they too can join the club of thieves. Heaven or hell no longer mean anything to most Nigerians even those who are religious leaders. What matters most is personal advantages. The consequences are there. God is shifting his attention from the so called “Giant of Africa” and concentrating on those who are willing to cooperate with his grace. Just last week the President of Burkina Faso inaugurated the first gold refinery in the country. What happens to Nigerians gold? What happens to other natural resources in Nigeria? We have refused to be accountable or to hold our leaders accountable.
5. Dear child of God, take time to measure God’s goodness in your life and see if your life corresponds with the graces that you have received. How have you used your position, your resources, your talents and privileges to make those around you better? Remember that the master will not fail to ask you to account for all that you have received. You are merely a steward of all that you have. Wealth, riches, power etc are given not for personal aggrandizement but for the wellbeing of all. Woe to him who having received all these believes that they are all for him alone. St. Paul in today’s second reading invites us to fill our “minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise.”( Phil 4:8-9) Yes, we are stewards not masters. We must be ready to give account.
