Dispossessing the Owner
- davidwperk
- Feb 19
- 8 min read
Devotional Reflection, Wednesday, February 20, 2025
The week of the sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection in today’s Gospel
12:1Then he began to speak to them in parables. ‘A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watchtower; then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. 2When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his share of the produce of the vineyard. 3But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. 4And again he sent another slave to them; this one they beat over the head and insulted. 5Then he sent another, and that one they killed. And so it was with many others; some they beat, and others they killed. 6He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” 7But those tenants said to one another, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.” 8So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. 9What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10Have you not read this scripture:
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
11this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is amazing in our eyes”?’
12When they realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowd. So they left him and went away.
You will find the full text of today’s Gospel at the end of this reflection.
Lectionary readings (BCP, 948)
AM Psalm 101, 109:1-4(5-19)20-30; PM Psalm 119:121-144
Isa 63:15-64:9; 1 Tim. 3:1-16; Mark 11:27-12:12
Today we celebrate the Feast of Agnes T K Ying, Agatha L Zhao, and Luci Y Zhenmei. (See below.)
David's Reflections
Virginia has a growing wine industry. During my years there, I especially enjoyed visiting one particular vineyard in the Barboursville area where the father and son planted the vines in the 1970’s and the son and his mother now carry on the legacy of the family. There is something almost sacred about standing on the ground where they planted and now grow the grapes and they vint the wines and bottle them.
Palestine was grape-growing country. Some of the best agricultural land was owned by nonJews--Gentiles living elsewhere. Locals farmed the land and paid the landowner a large percentage of the yield. Samples have survived of the kind of contract implied in Jesus' parable, which occurs in Matthew, Mark, and Luke.
The local tenants, especially in Galilee, were resistive to the control of the land by outsiders. In this instance, their repeated violations of the terms of the tenant contract and their violent treatment of the owner’s emissaries prompted a most unusual response. The landowner sent his son into a dangerous situation. One possible explanation for their violent response has been that the tenants wrongly concluded that the owner had died and the son had come to take possession. It is possible that were the son to die with no heirs, the vineyard would revert to the tenants. Hence, their statement, "This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours."
(The economic situation presupposed in this parable is far from certain. Other interpretations certainly are possible.)
Jesus made use of a highly charged symbol--the vineyard. Isaiah 5 says that God planted Israel like a vineyard. The messengers rejected by the tenants could be compared to the biblical prophets. The religious leaders were quick to get the point of comparison—their actions with regard to Jesus were those of the resistive tenants. They were exerting control over what was not their own, the fulfillment of the long-deferred hope of their faith. Jesus’ person and ministry were writing a conclusion to the saga of Israel that they would not accept.
Often, serving in ministry, it has been a challenge to recall that the place I served was God's church and that within a relatively short time I would be serving elsewhere or dead and many of the lay leaders would have moved or died. In a real sense, every priest serves as an interim. I served my first church out of seminary for five years and my successor served there for almost twenty. Since, other persons have assumed that role. The vineyard always is God's.
The new church I served as start up priest in Virginia from 2002-2010 belongs to God. It was not "my" new church; it certainly does not belong to those there since the beginnings or the ministry team or even to the diocese (even though the diocese holds title to the land). Rather, that work belongs to God and the clergy and laity serve God's mission and God's purpose. God forbid that we should resist God’s oversight. God has called us and entrusted the stewardship of the Gospel to that we might be fruitful with the witness of the Gospel; God is showering upon us all that we require to succeed.
Ours is to toil in God’s vineyard and to offer to the Spirit all that we are and have and do. Ours is to give thanks for each life transformed and for each soul lifted toward God, acknowledging that all happens because of God’s generous and kind self-giving.
May our prayer be that of the psalmist:
Turn now, O God of hosts, look down from heaven;
behold and tend this vine;
preserve what your right hand has planted. (Ps. 80:14, BCP, 703)
Collect of the Day, Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany
O God, the strength of all who put their trust in you: Mercifully accept our prayers; and because in our weakness we can do nothing good without you, give us the help of your grace, that in keeping your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 216)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Agnes T K Ying (died 1 Mar 1856 CE), Agatha L Zhao (died 28 Jan 1858 CE), and Luci Y Zhenmei (died 19 Feb 1862 CE), catechists and martyrs.
Collect of the Feast of Agnes T K Ying, Agatha L Zhao, and Luci Y Zhenmei
Lord Jesus Christ, who willingly walked the way of the cross: Strengthen your church through the witness of your servants Agnes Tsao Kou Ying, Agatha Lin Zhao, and Lucy Yi Zhenmei to hold fast to the path of discipleship even unto death; for with the Father and Holy Spirit you live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
A Collect for Grace
Lord God, almighty and everlasting Father, you have brought us in safety to this new day: Preserve us with your mighty power, that we may not fall into sin, nor be overcome by adversity; and in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 100)
For the Diocese
O God, by your grace you have called us in this Diocese to a goodly fellowship of faith. Bless our Bishop(s) N. [and N.], and other clergy, and all our people. Grant that your Word may be truly preached and truly heard, your Sacraments faithfully administered and faithfully received. By your Spirit, fashion our lives according to the example of your Son, and grant that we may show the power of your love to all among whom we live; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 817)
In the Order of Worship for Evening
Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, creator of the changes of day and night, giving rest to the weary, renewing the strength of those who are spent, bestowing upon us occasions of song in the evening. As you have protected us in the day that is past, so be with us in the coming night; keep us from every sin, every evil, and every fear; for you are our light and salvation, and the strength of our life. To you be glory for endless ages. Amen. (BCP, 113)
A Collect for Mission
Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. (BCP, 101)
Daily Office Gospel, Mark 11:27-12:12
27 Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him 28and said, ‘By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?’ 29Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. 30Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin? Answer me.’ 31They argued with one another, ‘If we say, “From heaven,” he will say, “Why then did you not believe him?” 32But shall we say, “Of human origin”?’ —they were afraid of the crowd, for all regarded John as truly a prophet. 33So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.’
12:1Then he began to speak to them in parables. ‘A man planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for the wine press, and built a watchtower; then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. 2When the season came, he sent a slave to the tenants to collect from them his share of the produce of the vineyard. 3But they seized him, and beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. 4And again he sent another slave to them; this one they beat over the head and insulted. 5Then he sent another, and that one they killed. And so it was with many others; some they beat, and others they killed. 6He had still one other, a beloved son. Finally he sent him to them, saying, “They will respect my son.” 7But those tenants said to one another, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.” 8So they seized him, killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard. 9What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. 10Have you not read this scripture:
“The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
11this was the Lord’s doing,
and it is amazing in our eyes”?’
12When they realized that he had told this parable against them, they wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowd. So they left him and went away.
Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
Comments