March 6, 2026
Friday
be the faithful tenants
Matthew 21:33-43,45-46
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: "Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.' They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?" They answered him, "He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times." Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes? Therefore, I say to you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit." When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they knew that he was speaking about them. And although they were attempting to arrest him, they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.
Reflective Thoughts
The parable of the tenants speaks directly to the chief priests and Pharisees, which becomes evident from their reaction after hearing it. God had lovingly sent prophets again and again, and finally His own Son, yet the people rejected them and even killed the Son. Jesus foresees His own suffering and death in their hands. The description of the vineyard being entrusted to faithful tenants symbolizes the future Church with Christ as its cornerstone. The parable underscores the responsibility to demonstrate fidelity to God; failure to do so becomes a sin of neglect.
This parable invites us to reflect on our own faithfulness to Him and our role in the church today - whether we are producing the fruits God desires. NOW is the proper time to offer back the fruits back to him through our committed life in Him.
Fr. Bony Arackal
St. Martin de Porres Church
Yorba Linda, CA 92886
Email: bonya@smdpyl.org