Christ is Born!
It happens time and time again throughout history, as well as in literature. From Hamlet to Narnia to Gondor one constant theme is the story of a steward, who by lies and treachery, tries to steal the throne for himself. The lure of power can often overcome those who have been entrusted with the kingdom in order to serve others.
In our reading today, brothers and sisters, the Lord uses the parable of a vineyard to illustrate this point. The servants have been tasked with taking care of the vineyard while their master is travelling. They forget they are servants and try to take the vineyard by force, killing those the master had sent to them.
The scriptures, however, weren’t written for the Jewish leaders of our Lord’s day, but for us, and in many ways this temptation is much more subtle in our own time.
What is our stance in regard to Christ and His vineyard, the Church? Do we remain faithful servants within His kingdom or do we think we own it, are entitled to it or deserve it? The Church may be maintained by us (we are after all the Body of Christ), but it has been divinely instituted- the Church comes from the Lord and belongs to Him. Do we use it for a platform for our own ideas or agendas, for power or recognition or control?
Only through trading our false scepters for pruning sheers will we have any peace. Only by taking the example of the Prince of Peace, born as a babe and placed in a manger for our salvation will we find a place in His kingdom. Let us continue to adore this King of Kings, the true owner of the vineyard!
Christ is Born!
