The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone

Then He began to tell the people this parable: "A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.' But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.' So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others." And when they heard it they said, "Certainly not!" Then He looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written:

'The stone which the builders rejected

Has become the chief cornerstone'?

"Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people -- for they knew He had spoken this parable against them.

- Luke 20:9-19

On Saturday, we read that Jesus was accused of casting out demons by the power of Beezebub. He retorted, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?" He was also challenged to produce a spectacular sign proving His authority. Jesus taught, finally, that it takes a stronger man to divide and conquer the "strong man's" house and take his goods. Finally, He said, "He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters." In today's lectionary reading, we skip forward in Luke's Gospel. Jesus has completed His journey to Jerusalem, and made His Triumphal Entry. Along the way He has told the parable of the Prodigal Son, healed a blind man in Jericho, brought salvation to Zacchaeus the tax collector, taught His disciples always to pray, and that the kingdom of God does not come with observation, "for indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."

In today's reading, Jesus has been teaching in the temple. He has already asked in confrontation with the chief priests and scribes if they can answer Him a question: "The baptism of John -- was it from heaven of from men?" So we are in the midst of confrontation over issues of authority.

Then He began to tell the people this parable: "A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time." The setting of a vineyard is very familiar as allegory to Jesus' audience. This is the story of Israel, God's people.

"Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out." The repeated appearance of prophets who are sent to teach the word of God -- this is the story of the servants who repeatedly come to those who are in charge of the vineyard. What is their harvest? What kind of fruits are they bearing? Do they bear fruits for the owner -- or is their stewardship not stewardship at all? This is a question we must also ask ourselves today, every day, in the mission of the Church. We mustn't take this parable as a meaning simply for those to whom it was originally told, but must ask ourselves whether or not we bear the fruits of stewardship, and the gracious purpose of the owner. The world, our whole planet, is a gift to us. For whose glory is it cultivated, whose ownership? In this case, my study bible says, the vinedressers are the religious leaders, the servants are the prophets, and God the Father is the owner.

"Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.' But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.' So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him." And the Son, of course, is Christ, or, as my study bible says, "Jesus the Messiah." This is the awaited son, of whom the audience is aware through Scripture and prophecy. But then there is a question of ownership that creeps in - of personal greed in some sense. For whose glory is the house of God, the people of God, this vineyard? Whose ownership and purpose? Let us consider these words carefully for ourselves today! It is our Teacher who taught them, therefore it is up to us to be all the more aware of the teaching.

"Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others." And when they heard it they said, "Certainly not!" The leadership of the temple replies in such a way that they clearly know to what Jesus is referring in this story. How can it be possible that the people of God be in the hands of any others? Jesus has taught, on the way to Jerusalem, important teachings to His disciples about stewardship and service. Here He is illustrating the concepts in a historical context -- and the results of failure to heed this understanding.

Then He looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written:'The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone'? Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people -- for they knew He had spoken this parable against them. The quotation is from Psalm 118. Clearly there is great popular sentiment about the leadership at this time, and unrest throughout Israel. How does such leadership lead, when popular figures (like Jesus and John the Baptist, widely considered to be a holy man and prophet) come to the fore and speak against their spiritual leadership of the people? Under Roman occupation, the people are already under great pressure. But it's not politics per se with which Jesus is concerned; there is a great spiritual duty to God the Father, to the care of the people, and not their exploitation for power and position and whatever are the fruits of this vineyard.

Let us consider, then, what is stewardship? What does it mean that this vineyard is a blessing given by God, and that fruits are expected of the vinedressers, the stewards? Yesterday, we celebrated Pentecost, and while we could look at this parable and its clear implications for spiritual leadership, I think we can also look at it in another context. That is, in the context of Jesus' teaching that the kingdom of heaven is within us - and that it is also among us. We see His teaching on the chief cornerstone, quoted from Psalm 118 and referring to Himself. What, then, does that mean for each one of us? Do we not also have the blessings of this gift within us and among us? Isn't this chief cornerstone also a part of the gift, and it also calls to us? The leadership of the temple was prepared through Scripture and understanding of what Messiah would be, and was able to interpret the many signs of the presence of God. But we who have had an anointing through Pentecost, do we respond to the presence of this kingdom within us and among us? What then becomes our responsibility in terms of how we respond -- and how we tend the vineyard that has been entrusted to us? And then the question begs to be asked, what of our leaders and their leadership? Do they seek it for themselves -- or is the glory of God and the fruits of the God of love returned to the Lord? Let us consider carefully this question for ourselves, because it is asked of us in all our choices every day. What does this gift ask of you?