Gospel: Mark 12:1-12
At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants to obtain from them some of the produce of the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent them another servant. And that one they beat over the head and treated shamefully.
He sent yet another whom they killed. So, too, many others; some they beat, others they killed. He had one other to send, a beloved son. He sent him to them last of all, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But those tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
So they seized him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come, put the tenants to death, and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read this Scripture passage: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?
They were
seeking to arrest him, but they feared the crowd, for they realized that he had
addressed the parable to them. So they left him and went away.
It
is not through our efforts alone that we have achieved success. It is God who
has enabled us to grow, prosper, and accomplish the things we enjoy today.
Every good thing we have is a gift from Him. The question we must honestly ask
ourselves is this: What have we given back to the Lord in return?
In
our Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of a landowner who carefully prepared his
vineyard and leased it to tenants. The tenants enjoyed the fruits of the
vineyard and benefited from all the work that the owner had already done for
them.
The
vineyard represents Israel, and the tenant farmers represent the religious
leaders of Israel. The owner of the vineyard is God. The servants are His
messengers, representing the prophets, and the beloved son is none other than
Jesus Himself.
When
harvest time came, the owner naturally asked for his share of the produce. But
the tenants became so greedy and self-centered that they refused to give him
what was due. Instead, they mistreated and killed his servants and even
murdered his beloved son.
As
we reflect on this parable, we realize that God is the true owner of the
vineyard, and we are merely His stewards. Everything we have—our life, health,
family, abilities, resources, time, and opportunities—has been entrusted to us
by Him. One day, we too will be asked to give an account of how we have used
these gifts.
Life
is short, and every day is an opportunity to respond to God's goodness. Let us
not wait until tomorrow to give back to Him. We can express our gratitude by
serving others, helping those in need, supporting the poor, encouraging the
discouraged, and sharing the blessings we have received. For example, we may
help provide for the education of a less fortunate relative or extend a helping
hand to someone struggling in life. There are countless ways through which we
can become instruments of God's love and generosity.
When
we freely share what God has entrusted to us, we acknowledge that we are not
owners but stewards. In doing so, we open our hearts more fully to God's grace
and allow His love to flow through us to others.
Today,
let us prayerfully examine our hearts. What have we truly given back to God in
return for His countless blessings? Have we offered Him our time, our talents,
our treasures, and our love? Or have we been holding tightly to gifts that were
never meant to be ours alone?
May
we never forget that everything comes from God and ultimately belongs to Him.
And when the Lord comes seeking the fruits of the vineyard He entrusted to us,
will He find hearts overflowing with gratitude, generosity, and faithful
stewardship—or empty hands that kept His blessings only for ourselves?—Marino
J. Dasmarinas
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