Fr. Bob's Reflection for the Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time - Guest Post

The Niagara Falls Suspension Bridge once spanned the Niagara River, connecting Canada and the United States. There is a story about how the bridge was built. First, a kite was flown across the river. Attached to the kite was a piece of string. The string was then connected to a rope, the rope to a steel cable, and that cable was eventually used to help construct the rest of the bridge. Why do I tell you this story? Because great things often comes from humble beginnings. Storytelling has been popular since we humans first learned to form sentences. Jesus probably told more stories than anyone. We call His stories parables. Someone cleverly described a parable as “an earthly story with a heavenly meaning.” For all practical purposes, Jesus’ parables fall into two categories: window parables and mirror parables. A window parable teaches us about the Kingdom of God, giving us insight into what Heaven is like. A mirror parable, on the other hand, gives us insight into ourselves. Jesus told these stories so that His listeners might see themselves in the characters. Today’s Gospel is a good example of a mirror parable. The vineyard owner represents God. As the first reading shows us, the vineyard represents the people of Israel, while the tenant farmers represent the leaders of Israel. The first servants sent by the owner represent the early prophets God sent to Israel. The second group represents the later prophets. The owner’s son, who is killed, represents Jesus. And the new tenants, to whom the vineyard is leased, represent the Apostles, the new leaders of God’s people. The chief priests and Pharisees knew Jesus was talking about them. They looked into the mirror of the parable and saw themselves. But rather than change their ways, they continued down the same path. So, did Jesus intend this parable only for the chief priests and Pharisees of His time? Not at all. He told this story for us, here and now. The parable speaks to us in several ways. It tells us about salvation and the relationship between the old and new covenants. It affirms that Jesus is the Son of God and that the Apostles are the new leaders of God’s people. And it teaches us about God’s patience with us – and our accountability before Him. The vineyard owner made repeated efforts to get the tenant farmers to change their ways. When it became clear that their hearts were not going to change, he passed judgment and held them accountable for their actions. God is the same way with us. His patience is immense, and His mercy is abundant. But there will come a day when we will stand before Him and be held accountable for how we have lived our lives. When I think about this Gospel, I remember the words of a poem written many years ago: “Jesus was the storytelling kind. He painted pictures in the mind. It was the way he showed people, like you and me, the way things are supposed to be.” Through His stories, Jesus invites us to look through the window and see the Kingdom of God – and to look in the mirror and see ourselves. Yours in Christ, Fr. Robert Warren, S.A. Spiritual Director