Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity

Isaiah 5.1–7 Philippians 3.4b –14 Matthew 21.33–end

Imagine for a moment that you are successful in business. So successful that you are the owner of several companies. As time passes the companies increase in their viability. They are now too big for you alone to manage. Now is the time to bring in assistance. Who better than to keep all in the family and enlist your children in the management.

Such is the way of the world and is how things have proceeded for years. But, back in the time of Jesus, although such practice was common there was also an accompanying criminal intent as there is in more modern times.

Running a successful vineyard was a lucrative business. It is likely that such a businessman could have more than one vineyard. Palestine was a troubled land and lookouts would be posted, watch-towers built, to guard against thieves. At harvest time the owner would send out slaves to gather in the harvest. Today the owner would expect his managers to arrange the harvest. The aim was the same, to gather in the produce.

As Jesus spoke his parable the listeners would be able to identify just who is being targeted. The vineyard is the Israeli nation with God as its owner. The workers in the vineyard were the religious leaders having charge for the success and welfare of the people. The messengers sent were the prophets who were rejected or even put to death. Finally, the son who came to the vineyard was Jesus.

In the relating of the parable his listeners would have probably squirmed as they recognised their part being described. Today we experience similar attempts being made on successful businesses. Thieves were trying to steal the vineyard and revolted against the agents sent by the owner. Yet as we look at the words of Jesus, we see how he is telling of the history of Israel.

The business owner, the owner of the vineyard, is God. The parable is showing us the trust that God has in us all. Religious leaders are placed in the vineyard to lead and encourage. They were not supervised but entrusted with the task they were given. Today the local business managers have been entrusted with the local running of the business. Looking at ourselves, we understand that each task that we are given is a duty which is ours through the grace of God.

We are assessed on how successful we are. God does not give us just one chance. Like the messengers sent time and again so we are given chance and opportunity to be successful in the duty given to us. But, in the end, if we have failed completely, we should not be surprised if that which we had a care for is taken from us and given to others. We had sunk to our lowest level.

We had been given all of the tools that we should need to complete that which we have been tasked to do. God has given us our task. He has laid out before us that which he demands from us. He has also given us the wherewithal to be successful. It is almost like being in an Escape Room, a room where you are locked in and the task is to unlock the door and get out. I have never been in one but have heard how everything that you need to escape from the room is provided. It is up to you to find and use what is supplied. God has provided us with all that we need to produce a successful harvest, and that is ourselves.

The thieves that the people Jesus was addressing is likened to the sin that surrounds us. Waiting, ready to pounce at the first sign of weakness. It will manifest itself as disobedience, as rebellion, against God’s wishes. Sin is deliberate in its action. It is us doing our own thing when we know quite well just what is required of us.

Jesus, the Son of God is above the messengers. He is above the local managers at work. Before him had been the prophets. They were messengers of God and held in high esteem for the work that they did, but Jesus came as the Son. He came to do all that God had required of him. He also came knowing what lay before him. He would die, not because he was being compelled to die. He would go to his death willingly, knowing full well what he was doing.

We are in the vineyard. We are working towards bringing forth the harvest. Whoever we are the task is ours. God has given us the tools to go out and bring in the fruit of the vine, the harvest of souls.

Collect for the Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity

Almighty and everlasting God,

increase in us your gift of faith

that, forsaking what lies behind

and reaching out to that which is before,

we may run the way of your commandments

and win the crown of everlasting joy;

through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,

who is alive and reigns with you,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever.

Amen.