Labouring in the Vineyard

The image of the Vineyard is truly captivating. In fact, since times immemorial, prophet after prophet has used this charming feature of Israel’s landscape to make a valid point. With grapes as an agricultural item playing an important role in the economy, society, and even in the faith traditions of the Jews, and later of the Christians too, it is no wonder that the Holy Bible abounds in parables relating to the Vineyard.

Bible commentators say that one of the best-known uses of the vineyard symbol in the Old Testament occurs in Isaiah, of which the First Reading (Is 5:1-7) provides the core: ‘The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel.’ Here, Isaiah recalls how the owner (who represents God) tenderly cared for his vineyard (His people Israel). And yet, how did the vineyard respond? By producing wild grapes (unruly behaviour or sin). It is quite natural that the owner should destroy such worthless plantations – quite clearly symbolic of retribution for sinful human behaviour.

Historically, the retribution that Isaiah hinted at was the Assyrian military attack that the southern kingdom, Judah, was anticipating, just as the northern kingdom of Israel had experienced earlier. The Prophet’s argument was that God had punished Israel for their unfaithfulness, and Judah could well avert its share of problems by changing their ways and strictly following God’s law. Yet, Isaiah is not all that hopeful, for God had once looked for justice but witnessed bloodshed; righteousness, and alas, beheld a cry.

Jesus’ parable in the Gospel (Mt 21:33-43) uses the vineyard symbolism with a more palpable human element: it replaces wild grapes with wild tenants. Since they have beaten, stoned, abused and killed the owner’s servants, and even his son, all of whom he had dispatched in quick succession, he ‘put[s] those wretches to a miserable death, and let[s] out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.’

How loaded with meaning! While the owner here still symbolises God, and the vineyard His people Israel, the ominous part is that the tenants represent officialdom and religious authorities to whom souls have been entrusted. Have they been reliable stewards of God’s property? The son there is the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord. Did Israel respect Him? No; they took Him, who was the heir, cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him… And what about us today? We still do the same every time we reject Him and through other sinful acts.

Alas, while many have embraced the Christian faith, not all have remained faithful. Thus, after Israel rejected Jesus, the Faith moved to the West, where it flourished for centuries, fulfilling the words of our Lord and Master to His Chosen People: ‘The kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation producing the fruits of it.’ But, eventually, after having reaped the fruits of Christian civilisation, that part of the world, too, failed, in a way, to cling to the old rugged Cross of Christ. With ever-growing affluence and misplaced confidence, the West slowly but steadily dropped its guard, and put its Christian faith on the back burner.

In our modern context, consumerism and individualism have become the new ‘wild grapes’, choking out the communal and sacrificial nature of the Gospel. And most worrisome is the fact, as Pope Paul VI put it, way back in 1972, that ‘the smoke of Satan has entered the Church of God.’

As regards the rejected stone whom God has destined to be the cornerstone of salvation, that rejected stone is none other than Jesus: ‘The very stone which the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.’ Presently, the greatest hope for the Church comes from the Asian and African continents.

For instance, in a nascent sovereign country like East Timor, the people have resolutely opted for the Catholic Faith, and this has gone from strength to strength (from 20% to 98%). For their part, several African nations have been among the staunchest supporters of Catholic morality and discipline, evident in their brave rejection of homosexuality, transgenderism, divorce, the ordination of women, and so on. Their Cardinals assert themselves at the Vatican, and their people do so at home – with their undeniable religious zeal, resilience amidst material poverty and persecution, and indescribable communal joy. They are among those who portray God’s Vineyard as a beacon of hope.

However, even while the social, political, economic, and environmental issues of our fragile planet are beginning to assume apocalyptic proportions, we must continue to be people with hope – not grapes of wrath but of sweetness. In the Second Reading (Phil 4:6-9), St Paul advises: ‘Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’

This is exactly what the modern Christian needs: to be a bunch of sweet grapes in a bitter world, by cultivating what is true, honourable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent, and worth praise.