April 6, 2025
Today’s Reading: Luke 20:9-20
Daily Lectionary: Exodus 1:1-22; Mark 14:12-31.
“When the tenants saw him, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, so that the inheritance may be ours.’” (Luke 20:14)
In the name of + Jesus. Amen.
It makes no sense. This vineyard was perfect in every way. The ground was well cultivated and primed for production. It was planted with the choicest vines. When the fullness of time would arrive, it was going to produce the finest of wine. When everything was set, and the master saw that it was good, he went out to find tenants who would live in his beautiful creation, tend to its needs, harvest the fruit, and return it to the master.
You would think that the master would have had a better vetting process and been more protective of his perfect garden. Although the master gave the tenants everything they needed to be successful, everything was laid out for them to a “t,” the agreement was broken. Greed overtook the tenants, and they decided to get what they thought they had coming to them.
Now, the Master’s response makes no sense. Having treated not just one or two but three servants terribly and sent them away empty-handed, the tenants thought they still had a chance at the ultimate prize, the son’s inheritance. What kind of people are they that they would enact such evil and expect no repercussions?
What kind of people? Truth be told, you are the wicked tenants. You are among those who have treated servants, prophets, and pastors shamefully and sent them away and set your sights upon the master’s son. Yours are the actions which have caused the death of the Son of the Master, the very son of God.
And although we have treated the Son so shamefully, though we have turned our back on the master, though we “daily sin much and surely deserve nothing but punishment” (5th Petition of the Lord’s Prayer), He has done something that makes no sense. He should bring to pass what He said in the parable. He should “come and destroy those tenants and give the vineyard to others” (Luke 20:16). He should cast us away from His presence and take His Holy Spirit from us. Yet, He does what is unexpected.
Because it was always the Father’s desire to show mercy to His Creation, He sent His Son into a sin-filled world knowing “He would go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed” (Matthew 16:22). And by His death and resurrection, we poor miserable sinners, would be made saints by His blood. Connected to His death and resurrection, we would receive full pardon and forgiveness for our sins, the inheritance that belonged to the Son, and the crown of eternal life.
It’s not fair, but such is the will of God. Praise Him for His continued mercy shown to sinners such as you and me.
In the name of + Jesus. Amen.
Almighty God, by Your great goodness mercifully look upon Your people that we may be governed and preserved evermore in body and soul; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect of the Day for the Fifth Sunday in Lent)
-Rev. Timothy Chase, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Truman, MN.
Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Harrison Goodman, Executive Director of Mission and Theology
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