Jesus offers several parables dealing with different aspects of God’s Kingdom on earth, the Church.

One of those parables is called ‘the parable of the wicked tenants in the vineyard’ (Matthew 21:33–43), and it addresses the subject of bad leadership in the Lord’s kingdom. Jesus uses the image of the Vineyard for His Church or Kingdom in this striking parable.

The Lord paints an image of leadership in His Church as less than flattering. It is an image of leadership that has gone astray; it is the image of a Church that is tended by those who think it is theirs to use at will, to bend the truth to their own ends, and not to do the will of God, the true Master.

This parable has reference, obviously, to the Jewish leaders who rejected Christ, “the cornerstone of the building,” and who put Him to death. But it would be a mistake to shrug off this message as if it only applied to the Jewish leaders back then.

There is more to this parable than condemnation of Jewish leaders in Jesus’s day.

This cautionary parable is a message for all times and seasons of the Church, especially today. The property owner in the parable is God the Father. The tenant farmers refer to the religious leaders whose job it is to serve the Church, unselfishly, not lording over the faithful as if they were their masters. The servants who were sent to obtain the Master’s “share of the grapes” represent the prophets and saints who labored to do the Lord’s will in His vineyard but were persecuted for their efforts by corrupt, religious leaders. The Son, whom God finally sent, is Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins but was rejected, and continues to be rejected by self-serving leaders in His Vineyard.

We have all been planted in the Vineyard by God, from the highest to the lowest, and we must all take responsibility for our stewardship in this Vineyard. No one can presume to be the owner, the Master of this fruitful kingdom. There is only one Master, one owner, and that is almighty God who sent His son to redeem us.. We are all called to be co-operative, fruitful workers in this Church, His Vineyard.

If Church leaders should act the way Jesus describes in this parable by abusing their authority, He declares the vineyard will be taken away from them and given to those who “will yield a rich harvest.” On the other hand, if the leaders are willing servants, fruitful and contented workers, acting decently and respectfully in accordance with the example of God’s only Son, His blessing will be upon them and those in their charge.

The Church is the people of God, struggling to be faithful to Christ in a sinful world. Let us pray for our fragile Church which is made up of weak, human vessels, striving to be more than what they are. Since we are all part of this kingdom on earth and, since we are all called to produce a fruitful harvest rather than sour grapes, let us pray :

Heavenly Father, help our Church to give example worthy of the calling of Christ, Our Savior.

Help us in our dealings with one another to be meek and humble of heart,
And to bear, patiently, one another’s burdens with love.
Inspire the Shepherds to act wisely and fruitfully for the good of everyone in His Kingdom.

—Fr. Hugh Duffy