Unfaithful Stewards

Gospel: Mark 12: 1-12

We have grown accustomed to reading today's parable as an indictment on the religious leaders and institutions of Jesus' day, and no doubt this was the intent of the author, understood clearly by the original audience.  No doubt it is true that the religious leaders and institutions of Jesus' day rejected the prophetic voices sent to them, neglected the needs of the vineyard, and conspired to put to death Jesus, seen as the son in this story.  

However, we are much less likely, much less comfortable, seeing this parable as about our own stewardship of the vineyard.  We would rather not talk about the many prophetic voices we have rejected, the many people we have killed who are images of God, other Christs, temples of the Holy Spirit.  We shut our ears when people talk of the abuse and scandals they have experienced at the hands of today's religious institutions and leaders, or the neglect of the vineyard and the largesse of the so-called stewards.

As with so many other things, it is much easier to examine the consciences and behaviors of others rather than our own.  The parable, that sermon about sin - they are about that person over there, not me.  But they are about me. My stewardship has not been any better than that of the original audience of this Gospel.  Today is a day to take stock of our own stewardship, to repent of its failures, and to begin anew more faithfully and lovingly to its care.