A DIVINE INVESTMENT

What is the goodness and usefulness of an investment that does not yield profit? What is the beauty or value of a vineyard or winery that produces wild-useless vines andgrapes? Of course, none of us would be happy to have such a vineyard or winery as well as an unprofitable investment. We very often like spending our time productively and are excited about what we gain especially when so much has been expended. This mindset is probably helpful in understanding the frustration of the vineyard owner, in the first reading and the gospel, with the quality of the vines produced on the one hand, and the attitude of the tenants on the other hand.

We are divine investments. God has spent so much on us in creating, redeeming, and continuously sanctifying us with his spirit. We are God’s vineyard that has been manured and specially cared for with the nourishment of his word and sacraments. God has offered us so much through the love of community of faith, family, neighbor, and many other ways- seen and unseen that his graces and mercies are bestowed stupendously upon on in our daily lives. What does he get in return? Wild grapes in the form of vices? What kinds of fruit do we produce? Are those fruits such that bring him delight or get him frustrated with us? These are soul-searching questions we need to answer ourselves and answer them sincerely. To help us in answering these questions, we have a paradigm given to us in Philippians 4:8.

Our behavior or actions are to be analyzed from the perspective of their truthfulness, justness, honorability, purity, loveliness, graciousness, praiseworthiness, and excellence. When we consistently live by these measures, we are being virtuous and productive to the glory and joy of God whose love and care towards us is overwhelming. By these criteria, dear friends, we may be able to say whether we are bad or good investments to God. It is also important to be conscious of our identity as stewards of divine gifts who are responsible and answerable to God, even as we live virtuous lives. 

Unlike the tenants in the gospel who attempted to steal or divert what has been only entrusted and not completely given to them, we must realize that life itself is God’s gift to us, for a purpose. Our faith too is a gift. There should be no conflict of ownership between God and us. God owns us and our possessions in the ultimate sense. What we have, therefore, is what has been entrusted to us and should be utilized to show our sense of responsibility as trustworthy stewards. We cannot afford to have a false sense of autonomy, choosing the obligations we wish and living anyhow we want to live and at the same time claiming to be children of God. Perhaps, what needs to be made clear is that certain privileges and responsibilities go with being related to God and God’s sovereignty. His commandments are ours to obey as we enjoy his protection and care. Our Lord is patient with us even as he makes demands for us to bear the fruits of the kingdom by living a virtuous life. But we need not take his patience for granted. We may want to begin our fruit-bearing today with some works of love, compassion, and justice towards our neighbor. Always remember that you are a divine investment. 

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