Today’s first reading from the Book of Isaiah and the Gospel according to Matthew presents us with a very powerful image: the vineyard. Today, the message is very simple: God has entrusted his vineyard to us.
The vineyard in the first reading represents the house of Israel. Isaiah speaks about a landowner who carefully cultivated his vineyard. He cleared the land, planted the choicest vines, built a watchtower, and did everything necessary to make the vineyard fruitful. The owner invested so much in the vineyard, and when he came looking for good grapes, he found only wild grapes.
In the Gospel, Jesus also speaks about a vineyard owner who planted a vineyard and entrusted it to tenants. And so, the question for us today is: What kind of fruits are you bearing? What are we doing with what God has given us?
In the first reading, the vineyard owner planted his vineyard and expected it to produce good fruit. God has also planted many things in our lives.
He has given us life, family, children, jobs, businesses, talents, intelligence, strength, opportunities, and the sacraments. God has not abandoned us. Rather, God has invested in us.
Therefore, the important question is not simply, “What has God given me?” The deeper question is: “What am I doing with what God has given me?” It is our responsibility to use these gifts according to God’s purpose.
Jesus says: “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” John 15:5. God expects us to bear fruit because He has invested in us.
One of the great temptations of human life is that we receive certain things from God and begin to think that they belong entirely to us. But the tenants in the Gospel forgot something important: They were caretakers, not the landlords. The money you have is God’s gift. The strength you have today is God’s gift. Your children are God’s gift. Your intelligence is God’s gift. Your business is God’s gift. Your position is God’s gift. Your family is God’s gift. Your opportunities are God’s gifts. Everything we have ultimately comes from God. Therefore, we must ask ourselves: “Lord, how do you want me to use what you have entrusted to me?” You are only a caretaker.
The question is not, “How much do I have?” The question is: “Am I using what I have to produce good fruit?” What Kind of Fruits Does God Expect? What does God expect from us? He expects fruitfulness, generosity, patience, love, faithfulness, forgiveness, compassion, and service. God does not want us to run away from what He expects of us. He has given each of us a vineyard to cultivate.
For some, that vineyard is your family. For others, it is your marriage, your children, your business, your profession, your ministry, your community, or your personal life. Whatever vineyard God has placed in your hands, you have a responsibility to cultivate it.
There is something very special about today’s readings: God is patient with us. Even when we fail, God continues to give us opportunities to change. He gives us another opportunity to rebuild ourselves. He gives us another opportunity to become better. He gives us another opportunity to bear good fruit.
Therefore, do not waste the opportunity God has given you. If there is something you need to change in your life, begin today. If there is something you need to repair, begin today. If you need to forgive someone, begin today. If you need to become more generous, begin today. If you need to take better care of your family, begin today. Cultivate the vineyard God has entrusted to you.
God wants us to invest in ourselves because He has already invested in us. He has given us life. He has given us opportunities. He has given us jobs and businesses. He has given us families. He has given us talents and abilities. And He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, for our salvation.
God does not demand that we build a perfect life. He wants us to build a better life. He wants us to keep growing. He wants us to keep producing good fruit. He wants us to use what He has given us for His glory and for the good of others.
As we leave this church today, let us remember: I am God’s vineyard. God has invested in me. God has invested in my children. God has invested in my family. God has invested in my business. God has invested in my life. The question is: What fruits am I producing?
Let us pray that when God comes looking for the fruits of our lives, He will find good fruits. May He find love. May He find generosity. May He find patience. May He find faithfulness. May He find kindness. May He find a life that has been used well.
I pray for you at this Mass: As you leave this church today, may you remember that you are God’s vineyard and that God has invested in you. May you bear good fruits in your life. May you bear good fruits in your family. May you bear good fruits in your marriage, your children, your work, and your business.
May God give you the wisdom to use everything He has entrusted to you. May God protect you. May God strengthen you. May God give you the grace to change whatever needs to be changed. And when you fall, may God give you the grace to rise again. May God give you another chance to cultivate the vineyard He has entrusted to you.
And when the Lord comes looking for fruit, may He find good fruit in us.
Amen.