In ancient times Pharaoh’s, Emperor’s and Kings believed they were Gods, claiming the absolute rights of a God, including that they be worshipped. Frequently, the opening lines of the Constitution of a Country state the basis of these rights. They loved to claim they were being ‘tortured’ the definition of ‘torture’ in the Charter being a “cruel or unusual punishment”! Explaining to them that ‘rights’ came with corresponding ‘responsibilities’ usually took the wind out of their sails – for a while!īe that as it may, all of us are rightly aware that we have rights simply by virtue of being human. When I worked in second level education with teenagers, they often, usually humorously, reminded me of their ‘rights’ under the Charter of Human Rights. They energise us, particularly when we feel they have been taken from us. In our modern world our ‘rights’ are very important to us. It is well worth while, I think, to pause and reflect on this: “ the Kingdom of God is for those who deserve it not for those who think they have a right to it.” The message is summed up in the last verse, telling us that the Kingdom of God is for those who deserve it not for those who think they have a right to it. The tenants come to a “wretched end” (we can only imagine what that might be!) and other tenants, presumably honest and trustworthy, are employed to replace them. I doubt very much is many of us would be that understanding!įinally, of course, the landowner has to act. Despite their disregard for him and their violence towards his servants he gives them three chances to hand over his share of the crop. In contrast the landowner is patient and tolerant. We are shown how their wickedness grows over time how two sets of servants are beaten and killed before the landowner sends his own son, confident that even they would not kill him. The tenants of the vineyard are truly ‘horrid’. Today is no different, but this time the “horrid” take the ultimate step and resort to murder – twice!Īs with the parable last week there is no need to explain it. “When she was good, she was very, very good,” the poet tells us, “…but when she was bad, she was horrid.” Matthew’s parables are filled with the “very, very good” (the amazingly forgiving King, the super-generous landowner) or the “horrid” (the wicked servant, the grumbling workers in the vineyard). ![]() ![]() The people who populate Matthew’s parables remind me a bit of the little girl in the poem who had “a little curl, right in the middle of her head. ![]() Gospel Reflection for Sunday October 8th 2023 | 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time
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