The parable of Jesus in today’s Gospel talks about 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…”

The parable is an allegory. The landowner is God. The tenants represent the religious leaders. The servants sent by the landowner are the prophets. The landowner’s son is Jesus Himself. The vineyard is the house of Israel as we heard in the responsorial Psalm.

The Son, the cornerstone although rejected by the builders, but has fully inherited the vineyard by the power of the resurrection. This parable tells us of God’s patience, justice, and mercy.

Jesus knew he would be rejected and killed. But he also knew that it would not be the end. After the rejection, would come his glory, the glory of his Resurrection and Ascension to the right hand of the Father.  

God does not simply demand and punish but patiently and mercifully sends prophets to call his people to repentance and to faithfulness. The prophets show that God is rich in mercy. God sent his only Son into the vineyard of the world. But, like the servants who were sent before him, he also suffered at the hands of the religious leaders and was killed. 

God always bring us his justice. Even though life may not always be fair but God is fair. We need to continue to trust God in everything. I encourage you today to keep up the good work and keep moving. God has promised he will pay us back for every unfair situation and rejection that may have happened to us. So, let no one stop your destiny and the plan God has for you. In every situation God has the final say. God says I will restore the years that were stolen. You may have experience rejection, sadness, or bad health today; but your tomorrow would be better than today and your joy will definitely come in the morning.

Nothing that happens to us is a surprise to God. That rejection, that setback, they were simply a set up for God to take us to a higher level of God’s blessings and Favors. Believe God and shake off all the rejections, self-pity, and defeat and get ready for God to do something new. God said in Exodus; “I have seen the affliction of my people and I have heard their cries…” Amen.

God has seen the wrong, the injustice and rejection that may have been done; he has seen everyone that may have hurt you, the tears you may have shared. But God says, I will come down to deliver you; I will do something about it for you. I will restore everything to your favor.

We pray with the prayers in our second reading today and the encouragement to have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, to make our requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understandings will continue to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

God is good…all the time. God bless you

Fr. Daniel E. Ogbeifun