ACCOUNTABILITY

ILIZWI REFLECTIONS
Sunday, 8 October 2023
27th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Isaiah 5:1-7
Psalm 80:9,12–16,19–20
Philippians 4:6-9
Mathew 21:33-43

ACCOUNTABILITY
“He expected it to yield grapes” – Is 5:2b

Today’s readings use the symbol of a vineyard. This was a common crop in Israel that needed a great deal of meticulous preparation, time and resources went into preparing a vineyard as expressed in Is 5:1-2. One had to buy land on a special location, on the hillside, then fence it all around and build a watchtower and a winepress. One then had to remove many stones, then cultivate by hoeing. The type of plant had to be well chosen. This is why in 1 Kings 21 Naboth could die for his vineyard, he had invested a lot in it.

The vineyard in the Old Testament is a symbol of Israel (v.7). The Good news today is that you are God’s vineyard. In other words, “I am the Lord’s treasured investment”. God has taken all his time to create you so beautiful and gifted you so much, “I am wonderfully and fearfully made” (Ps 139:14). Just like Naboth, God can die for you because He has put much in you, He has invested a lot in you – and indeed He did die for you on the cross!

After all this huge investment, hard work and labour, just like any farmer, God expects fruits, results. But what does He find in my life, family, community? To His bitter disappointment, according to the prophet Isaiah, “wild, sour grapes” (v.2c), other translations say, “rotten grapes”. And He asks the same painful question, “what more was there for me to do for you that I have not done?” (cf. Is 5:4).

In the gospel, the landowner’s servants and son were killed when the owner asked for results because maybe there was nothing in the field. God today is asking for an audit of your life; he is asking for receipts! The accounting system is simple “from whom much has been given, even more will be demanded” (Lk 12:48).

One thing about vineyards is that they have a lifespan of 150 years. However, in a vine only the grapes are useful. The branches are useless (see Ez 15:2-5). That is why the vine grower in the 1st reading gives up and resolves to destroy the vineyard (v.5-6). The reading ends with a gloomy punishment!

But let us reflect deeper on the mode of punishment. The farmer will remove its fence and allow animals to graze on it. In so doing the vine grower has simply changed his profession. From a farmer to a shepherd. He has in reality not given up on his vineyard.

In other words, God will not give up on Israel. It didn’t work as a farmer, and now God will become Israel’s shepherd. In the same way, God will not give up on you. No matter how sour, rotten your grapes currently are!

The same way in the gospel, when the tenants fail, the owner does not give up on the vineyard, he leases it to other tenants (v.41).

With prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, as St. Paul urges us in the 2nd reading, let us turn back to our God who does not give up on us with repented hearts and start bearing sweet grapes of love, forgiveness, peace, mercy …

Prayer.
O Lord, do not abandon the vineyard that your right hand has planted, but cultivate it and enrich it with selected shoots, so that grafted on Christ, the true vine, it bears fruit abundant with eternal life.

You are God’s treasured investment.
Blessed Sunday

Fr. Ncube, SVD
Ilizwi Biblical Centre
Divine Word Missionaries
Plumtree