Today’s Community Scripture – 4/21/2025 

Jesus told another story to the people: “A man planted a vineyard. He handed it over to the farmhands and went off on a trip. He was gone for a long time. In time, he sent a servant back to the farmhands to collect the profits, but they beat him up and sent him off empty-handed. He decided to try again and sent another servant. That one they beat black-and-blue, and sent him off empty-handed. He tried a third time. They worked that servant over from head to foot and dumped him in the street. “Then the owner of the vineyard said, ‘I know what I’ll do: I’ll send my beloved son. They’re bound to respect my son.’  “But when the farmhands saw him coming, they quickly put their heads together. ‘This is our chance—this is the heir! Let’s kill him and have it all to ourselves.’ They killed him and threw him over the fence. “What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do? Right. He’ll come and clean house. Then he’ll assign the care of the vineyard to others.” Those who were listening said, “Oh, no! He’d never do that!”  But Jesus didn’t back down. “Why, then, do you think this was written: That stone the masons threw out—It’s now the cornerstone!? “Anyone falling over that stone will break every bone in his body; if the stone falls on anyone, it will be a total smashup.” The religious scholars and high priests wanted to lynch him on the spot, but they were intimidated by public opinion. They knew the story was about them.

Luke 20:9–19 (MSG)

– Reflection:

In the passage above, the chief priests and Pharisees were questioning the reasoning of the story he had just told. Did they think he was speaking of GOD leaving the vineyards with those who had protected them up to that point? The farmhands, if they were listening, were evil and only looking out for themselves. They had laid claim to a land that wasn’t even theirs and claimed it as their own, even though the owner was asking for the profits from it. Surely they didn’t think that GOD was going to give more grace to those who killed the son of the owner of the vineyards. Even today, as we see leaders in our country and others, some people can only see the greed in their own minds, which they attribute to themselves. Think about it; this is before Christ went to the Cross. He had performed all these miracles and great acts of healing and soul saving up to that very point, and they pulled what they wanted out of the story he told. Amazing.

– Where do we go from here?

This story raises the question: how do we see ourselves in this world, as owners or tenants? Faith teaches us that GOD is the owner, and we are simply tenants, stewarding what has been entrusted to our care. Are we faithful tenants, managing all that has been entrusted to us, returning to the owner what rightfully belongs to them? This is ultimately what the life of faith is all about.

– Our Prayer for Today

Father, grant us the strength to recognize when our blessings are right in front of us, even when we struggle to do so. Keep us on the path you have set for us. Provide us with the ability to see the wrongs we are doing to others and the strength to correct them immediately. It is with all the grace and mercy within me that I ask for these things for myself and for others. In Jesus’ name, we are allowed to say. Amen