27TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, A
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LOVE WILL FIND A WAY
The gospel today is painted with
gloom. It is a story of betrayal, a portrait of violence, an expression of
hatred, at a plot for greed. The good landowner suddenly realizes how wicked
his tenants are. They do not want to share the harvest with him; they refuse to
listen to his messengers; they hate his only Son; and they have no respect for
his kindness and generosity.
What landowner would not feel
react with self-defense? What father would not respond with revenge for the
death of his son? What person would not vow to stop trust others again?
The leaders of Israel, the
tenants, behaved in a way that directly countered the will of God, the owner of
the vineyard. In order to frustrate the plans of God for the kingdom, they even
had to eliminate the Son, sending a harsh message of grief to the Father’s
heart.
But such is the vastness of God’s
vision, the greatness of his Spirit, the ocean of his mercy, that God did not
relent in his plan of salvation. He did not reteat unto himself and stopped
caring for his people. Yes, he was rejected, but he would find others who would
open their hearts to his call.
The Father was hurt, was angry,
and was disappointed. But he was not defeated. His love found its way past the
people who rejected him. Jesus, who was rejected by the Jews, would be received
by the Gentiles. Jesus’ death in the hands of his enemies would bear much fruit
in the hands of his disciples.
In our weakness, we are not
faithful to God at all times and in all circumstances of our lives. Like the
religious leaders of Jesus’ time, we refuse the Lord and betray him many times
through stubbornness and rebellion. But Jesus will continue to triumph in the
hearts of those who discover in him the fountain of life and love. And we
sinners who later discover our fault and return to the Lord will receive the
peace and encouragement we need to enter new chapters of our life with God.
