"He began to tell the people this parable: ‘A man planted a vineyard, and leased it to tenants, and went to another country for a long time. 10When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants in order that they might give him his share of the produce of the vineyard; but the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11Next he sent another slave; that one also they beat and insulted and sent away empty-handed. 12And he sent yet a third; this one also they wounded and threw out. 13Then the owner of the vineyard said, “What shall I do? I will send my beloved son; perhaps they will respect him.” 14But when the tenants saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, “This is the heir; let us kill him so that the inheritance may be ours.” 15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16He will come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others.’ When they heard this, they said, ‘Heaven forbid!’ 17But he looked at them and said, ‘What then does this text mean:
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone”?*
18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.’ 19When the scribes and chief priests realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to lay hands on him at that very hour, but they feared the people."
Today is GivingTuesday. It is meant to inspire generosity in the aftermath of Black Friday and Cyber Monday--consumer shopping days to fulfill the Christmas wish lists. My wife and I have done very little shopping since Thanksgiving and even less spending. I think it's good to remind people to give. Studies have shown that giving makes people happier than receiving. Generosity is a way that we deny the self and think of others. It comes out of and builds compassion and empathy. Inviting children to give is great formation and teaches the power of greed and the need to let go in order to live a fuller and richer life. Too often giving is an annual event or an end-of-the-year holiday expression, rather than a way of life, a habit or a routine. The bible suggests that God is constantly giving and apart from daily divine generosity we cannot live.
This parable of Jesus reminds us that God entrusts God's things to people. God is like an absentee vineyard owner, who entrusts the vineyard to people. When harvest time comes, the owner expects fruit. But the tenants are greedy and willing to resort to violence in order to retain what does not belong to them. Possessed by our possessions, we are unable to give freely and liberally to others. We are afraid. We believe in the myth of scarcity, despite our wastefulness and misuse of the abundance around us.
I struggle with time management. I waste time sometimes. I do not budget time wisely, spending too much on somethings and not enough on others. I think time is a gift from God that I take for granted. How much time do I really have? The time I do have, I should use well.
Some Christians believe that government is a function of God's provision, a way in which God orders human community. Responsible government, according to the bible, looks after the innocent, the weak, the vulnerable, the poor, and the displaced. Irresponsible government is greedy and self-serving. We have seen and heard governing authorities abuse their leadership and abuse the people they are supposed to protect and govern. Like Jesus, we are called to speak against abusive powers and "bad tenants" who have been given authority, only to abuse it for selfish gain. Jesus suggests that their power will be taken away from them. Moral advocacy that holds leaders accountable to those they are required to serve is a work of public witness or faith in action.
We know that there is a cost to public witness, to accountable stewardship and faithful living. Jesus paid it on the cross. We will bear crosses, too. But, the promise is true. Those who pour themselves out, who give themselves away, put others before themselves, who love their neighbors and their enemies, will be rewarded. The reward may be the act itself, since generosity brings joy to the heart. The reward is also eternal life, a home with God, and everlasting peace. So, on GivingTuesday, be generous with what God has given you; yourself, your time, your possessions. Signs of God's gracious love. God the giver gave all that you have to you, so that you might join God in that work. Don't squander it, hoard it, or keep a little for yourself. Don't believe in scarcity. Believe in abundance. Believe in the reward of a generous life. And look to Jesus as the best example of how to give. Wholly. Selflessly. Lovingly.
