Sunday Reflections

God’s Expectations

Expectations and disappointments seem to go hand-in-hand. The readings about vineyards made me think about the work that the people of Tanzania put into planting their staple crop of corn. It is back-breaking work done without machinery. People—women, who sometimes have babies wrapped around their backs, and men, young and old—break up the soil with hand-held hoes in order to sow the seeds that will hopefully yield enough to last their families until the next planting. They pray for the rain that they need, and they continue to hoe the fields so that the moisture will reach the roots and not simply run off from the field. Of course, sometimes there is no rain and sometimes there is too much rain. The expectations are very high because of the hard work put in and the deadly consequences of a poor crop. Much is riding on a successful harvest for each family. With such high expectations, the disappointment of a failed crop is crushing. There is no emergency assistance fund. There is no second chance. There is only deep disappointment in the face of failure.

The readings today speak of God’s disappointment in people when they do not live up to the expectations that God has for them. The first reading is about Israel. Israel is God’s planting. It has been given a role, a mandate, a job; it is to be a sign for the world of what it is to be in relationship with God. The purpose of being this sign is so that the world will be saved. If Israel, God’s beloved vineyard, can be a good sign of this relationship, then all the nations—the pilgrimage of nations—will be attracted to God and God’s way. Through Israel, God will be able to bring about God’s plan: the salvation of the world. Isaiah warns of the need for Israel to repent and to become a better sign.

Jesus is also disappointed in Israel—particularly in its leaders who have laid heavy burdens upon the people and have not interpreted God and God’s ways properly. Jesus is always about the “weightier” matters of the law: justice, peace, and faith. Like the words of Isaiah, Jesus is reminding the religious leaders that they have been given a great responsibility and that there are consequences if this responsibility is not carried out.

Of course, many have misinterpreted this passage to mean that the kingdom of God will be taken away from Israel. However, a close reading of the text indicates that Jesus is talking to the leaders of Israel. Starting 10 verses earlier, we are told that Jesus was addressing the chief priests and the elders of the people who had approached him. This parable is addressed to them. The saying that the reign of God will be taken away from “you” is not directed to the people of Jerusalem, and still less to Israel as a whole, but to Jesus’ opponents, the religious authorities in Jerusalem. So that this may be clearer to all hearers of the gospel, the text ends: “When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them.” 

In any case, God has expectations for each of us. We have each been given people in our lives and gifts to use in relationship with them. We can look to St. Paul who calls each of us to continue to spread the Gospel—to be faithful stewards in the Lord’s vineyard—and to grow in Christ, carrying out whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, and whatever is gracious.