Isaiah 5:1-7 / Philippians 4:6-9 / Matthew 21:33-43
It is often said that “you reap what you sow”. Even the Scriptures would say that too in the letter to the Galatians 6:7.
That is not too difficult to understand. Simply, it means that you have to face up to the consequences of your actions, and that future consequences are inevitably shaped by present actions.
As we may know, especially if you are a parent, that exam fever has begun. The PSLE exams began late last week.
Exam time is certainly a time of intense prayer. Do we know what is the difference between a prayer in church and a prayer in an exam hall? In an exam hall you really mean what you pray.
Yes, among other things, exams can be an example of that saying “you reap what you sow”.
And if there are bad results, the blame certainly cannot be on the teachers.
Blaming the teachers for bad exam results is like blaming the doctors for people getting sick.
As much as that is the truth, yet when there are problems, the blame game well kick in because no one wants to take responsibility.
And that is the message of the 1st reading and gospel.
In the 1st reading, there was a story of a man who had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. He dug the soil, clear it of stones, and planted choice vines in it. He expected it to yield grapes, but sour grapes were all it gave.
So just what happened on? It was a contradiction to that saying of “you reap what you sow”.
The matter becomes clearer in the gospel parable when again, there was a man who had a vineyard. He leased it to tenants, but when the time came to collect his produce, it was not sour grapes but sour tenants, who just wanted what was not rightfully theirs.
So the problem is not with the landowner or with the vineyard. The problem was the greedy tenants.
Translating that into the educational system, it is not teachers who are to blame for bad exam results.
Their sowed their best. They can only hope that their students will do their best.
God is like a good teacher who has given us His best. He chose us to be His people. He cares for us and provides for us and He blesses us so then we will be faithful to Him and walk in His ways.
We are the vineyard of the Lord and we are to bear a good harvest for the Lord.
In this current situation, where the church is partially open, or partially close, God has also opened a church in every home.
Every home is to be a house of prayer where the voice of prayer must be heard, the voice of prayer for blessings, for healing, for deliverance, for joy, for peace, for love.
Oh yes, these are worrisome times, but as the 2nd reading tells us, there is no need to worry, but if there is anything we need, we ask God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard our hearts and minds.
As we enter into the month of the Rosary, the Rosary reminds us not to worry, because Mary our Mother is there to pray with us and for us.
Let us sow with the prayer of the Rosary and we will reap abundantly.
Let us be God’s harvest of joy, so that we can bring peace and love into our worried and troubled world.