(Please read the Scripture passage before reading the homily.)
This story reminds me of two other stories. Isaiah, in chapter 5, sang of a vineyard that was so bad that the owner destroyed it. The vineyard was the people. The second is from the book of Genesis and tells the story of Joseph, who was thrown out by his brothers, but who eventually saved them.
The passage we are considering draws on both these stories. Isaiah’s vineyard provides the setting for the rejection of the Son and heir. The rejected family member, Joseph in Egypt and Jesus in the parable, becomes the family’s savior. Joseph would welcome his father and siblings into the safety of Egypt. Jesus would welcome his people into the Kingdom of God.
The story tells us that conflict would come and threaten God’s people. The conflict would not destroy God’s work because God would send a savior.
Lent is a time of conflict for us, not that we think we need another conflict since we have been dealing with a pandemic for a year and civil unrest more recently. The parable of today’s reading promises a happy result. God always sends a savior. Easter will come, spring will return and God will remain in charge of our human history.
We each, however, have our parts to play. We must not reject the salvation God sends us. Joseph was an unexpected savior for his family. Jesus was the unexpected Savior of his people. Jesus continues his work through us.
We are the (un)expected saviors of today. We must act as Jesus did. We must be open to his word. We must accept the discipline of Lent so that with hearts purified we can celebrate the Paschal Mystery with minds and hearts renewed.
What does this mean in practice? For the pandemic, it means accepting the condition, wearing masks, accepting the vaccine, and so providing security for others and therefore also for ourselves. For the civil unrest, we can train ourselves to see God at work even in the work of people whom we do not trust or like. It means treating other people with respect, lest we end up rejecting the saviors God sends to us.
We are Joseph and Jesus to the world today. We could, unless we are careful, end up being the brothers or tenants, instead, who reject the ones sent by God. We have a choice.