Gospel: Matthew 21: 33-46
Christian apologists have often taken this parable as a cudgel against Judaism, arguing that the kingdom of God has been taken away from them and given to the Christian church now for stewarding since Israel was not faithful to God and killed Jesus the Messiah. In their minds the entire project of God is a replacement theology wherein everything promised to the Jewish people is now given over to the Christian church, that we are now the chosen people of God.
Yet the parable can equally apply to the Christian church as well. Consider how Christianity has become a religion of oppression of others - the defense of unjust wars and attacks on other people, creating poverty and refugees. It has become a religion defending the bloodshed of capital punishment, the demeaning of the poor and marginalized, the demonization of the immigrant, refugee, and migrant. Christianity has become the very thing it claimed to be against and claimed not to be.
The parable is about each one of us and our relationship to the mystery of God and the mystery of the kingdom. We are tenants entrusted with a precious charge; we are not its owners and we are no greater than anyone else because everyone has received the same gift and same charge. The kingdom is within each one of us, and it is for us to cultivate it to our use and for the benefit of others, not to lord it over others. We are not special and chosen. We are all vessels of clay carrying a treasure of great price.
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