The Holy Prophet Habakkuk (Avvakum); Athansius the Recluse (1176)
Titus 1:5-2:1; Luke 20:9-18
Nativity Fast.
Read Luke 20:9-18
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Today, Jesus recounts for us the history of God’s people in a brief parable. Jesus’ use of the word ‘vineyard’ is a term that come from the Old Testament. Isaiah uses it to describe the House of Israel: “For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting…” (Isaiah 5:7a). The Lord is not only the creator of Heaven and Earth, but also the one who orders everything for the good. The vineyard was established in order to bear fruit and in so doing to be pleasing to the Lord and to nourish the nations with their godly life. The second half of Isaiah 5:7 gives us the Lord’s expectation for His vineyard: “…and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, a cry!” (Isaiah 5:7b). This word of warning came to the Jews 700 years before the coming of the Messiah. This is a concrete example of how the prophets were sent to remind the people of their true identity, who they belong to and what they are called to produce, but sadly the prophets were often ignored.
Yes, the Jewish people who did not produce fruit were cut off, but the parable and teaching shows us something even greater: the great patience, forbearance and long-suffering love of the Lord. No one in our wildest imagination could ever compare. How long did He bear with the Jews? How many messengers did He send? Then finally, after experiencing rejection so many times He sent His own Son. Yet, the Lord did all these things out of His boundless love for humanity. To know and experience the boundless love of God, which He has for each of us, should make us stand in awe and inspire us to strive to live the same.