Twenty – Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sr. Tess Rynn, SNDdeN
Matthew 21: 33-43
Most of us are always ready to listen to a story – tales of past and present from family and friends, or perhaps the opportunity to become engrossed in our latest book. Jesus knew the power of the story and so he often used a Parable, a story about the familiar, to get across a deeper meaning.
Today’s Gospel Parable centres around relationships, around authenticity. The Landlord trusted his tenants, making repeated efforts to give them a purpose in life, but that trust was misused, opportunities were missed.
This search for authenticity is an essential part of my life. It’s an authenticity which takes me deeper and deeper into the heart of the God, ‘in whom I live and move and have my being.’ It’s an ever present invitation, to step out into the unknown, to go to places I have never been before. In our moments of stillness and silence we know this to be true, we know that ‘there must be other songs to sing,’ It is then, that we recognize the encouraging voice of the Lord, ‘there are always other songs to sing.’
Even if I am not yet singing those ‘other songs,’ maybe at least I’m hearing the music – maybe the ‘intro.’ What is it that prevents me from clearly hearing what I need to hear — fear, apathy, a sense of complacency? The words of Jesus to the woman at the well, come to mind, ‘If you only knew what God is offering.’ That’s the whole point isn’t it? We don’t know what God is offering and so we stay in that safe place, within our own comfort zone. The unknown can so often be daunting, but it can also be a message of transformation. Like the Landlord in the Parable, who eventually sent his son, with disastrous consequences, the Lord is persistent in his desire for our fulfilment and lasting happiness.
‘There are always other songs to sing.’ As I let that reality seep into my spiritual bones, could today be different? Could today be a ‘now’ moment? Could today be a transformation moment?
Today’s Parable, a saga of violence and missed opportunities, is clearly reflected in our world today. At home and abroad we see war, turmoil and abuse in its many forms. It is a world waiting for ‘other songs to sing’ — songs of hope, justice, peace and joy. Our invitation is to sing these songs, so that others too, may join in, until we become a chorus, of a united world.
Reflection
What would I need to do, to hear those ‘other songs’ and to sing them?
Am I ready and willing to take the first steps?
Matthew 21: 33-43
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:”Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat,
another they killed, and a third they stoned.
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones,
but they treated them in the same way.
Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking,
‘They will respect my son.’
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,
‘This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?”
They answered him,
“He will put those wretched men to a wretched death
and lease his vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the produce at the proper times.”
Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Therefore, I say to you,
the kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”
Meet Sister Tess Rynn, SNDdeN
