27A SUNDAY HOMILY, MATTHEW 21:33-43 October 8, 2023
1. STORY
Two farmers with horse driven wagons were on their way to sell tomatoes
in the village. They and their horses
were tired as they approached a hill on the journey. One decided to stop and rest.
The second, fearful that the tomatoes might become ruined, encouraged
his friend to continue on. Just then
Jesus and Peter were walking by when they saw one farmer working hard to get up
the hill while the other was sleeping. Jesus
helped him so he was able to get his wagon up the hill, but Jesus did not help
the sleeping farmer. Peter was puzzled
and asked Jesus why he helped one and not the other. Jesus replied that he looked into their
hearts. The hardworking farmer was concerned
about his wife, his children, and his aging parents. He had to sell the vegetables to help them. The sleeping farmer was thinking only of
himself and so he slept. Jesus helped
the one who was concerned about others.
2. GOSPEL, MATTHEW 21:33-43
A. THE FARMERS WERE UNJUST TO THE OWNER
The owner planted the vineyard, built a fence around it, dug a vat, and erected a tower. The farmers were tenant farmers. They did not own the land. They had an obligation to share the produce with the owner. They refused to do this. They thought only of themselves. We are the farmers as we are sent to work in the world, God’s vineyard.
B. THE FARMERS WERE UNJUST TO THOSE SENT BY THE OWNER. The farmers
treated those who were sent to collect the produce very badly. We must be just to others who are sent by God
to work in the world.
3. APPLICATION TO LIFE
A. WE MUST BE JUST TO GOD
God has put us into his vineyard, the world. We must be obedient and faithful workers by helping him to make this a better world. We do this by our prayers and by hearing his word for guidance and receiving the Eucharist for spiritual strength.
B. WE MUST BE GOOD TO OTHERS. GOD
HAS SENT OTHERS TO WORK IN THE WORLD.
We must be good to others by our words and actions. We do this by being kind, polite, and
respectful in our speech. We must be
cooperative, sacrificing, and forgiving in our actions. The way we deal
with people will make this a better world which is the way God wants this world
to be.
4. CONCLUSION
One farmer thought only of himself. The other farmer thought of his family. Jesus helped the one who not only thought of
himself but also of others. The tenant
farmers were punished because they thought only of themselves by refusing to share
the produce with the owner and mistreating those sent to gather the produce. God has sent us to the world,
his vineyard, so we must be just to God and good to others.
