REFLECTIONS

The people of God portrayed as a vineyard in both Old and New Testaments.

In every case, God is the one who plants the vineyard, after choosing the best and most fertile land and preparing it carefully. God then looks for a good harvest, only to be disappointed time and again. The Gospel parable tells the history of Israel as God’s vineyard. The owner of the vineyard leased it out to tenants. Later, the owner sent servants to collect the portion of the harvest that was due to him. These servants represent the prophets whom God regularly sent to Israel, only to see them rejected, abused and sometimes killed. Finally, the owner sends his son to them but he, too, is killed. (Jesus’ opponents know that he is referring to himself.) The owner is left with no alternative but to lease the vineyard to other tenants who will deliver the share of the produce to him when harvest time comes. What is that good fruit that God wants from his vineyard? Saint Paul tells us: ‘everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, everything that can be thought virtuous and worthy of praise. Keep doing these things that you have heard or seen that I do. Then the God of peace will be with you.’

~God’s Word Daily Reflections 2026