Heart Meditations

S-cripture: Mark 12:1-8

1 Jesus then began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a pit for the winepress and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. 2 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants to collect from them some of the fruit of the vineyard. 3 But they seized him, beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 4 Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully. 5 He sent still another, and that one they killed. He sent many others; some of them they beat, others they killed.  6    “He had one left to send, a son, whom he loved. He sent him last of all, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’  7    “But the tenants said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let’s kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’ 8 So they took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.

O-bservation

In the time of Jesus wealthy land owners would lease their land to tenant farmers. The landlords were responsible to plant the vines put up walls and hedges to protect the crops and maintain a watch tower. The tenants took care of the day to day running of the vineyard. At harvest time the tenants would harvest the fruit, give an agreed upon amount to the landlord and rest they kept to feed their family and trade for supplies they needed. The tenant farmers did not pay rent for the land the lived on. They simply had to give some the crop to their landlord. In this parable despite all the landlord had done for the tenants were unwilling to share the harvest with him. They even went so far as to abuse the servants sent to collect his share of the harvest and kill his son.

A-pplication

I am like those evil tenants. It has dawned on me that my life is God’s vineyard. He made it. He planted the vines. He has put a wall of protection around it. He put the watchtower in it. By the miracle of procreation, I have been given the opportunity to lease this life from God. He has not asked for anything up front. He has simply asked for some of the fruit. Not all, not most, just some. Some of my time everyday to connect with Him. Some of my money every time I get paid to support His mission. Some of my abilities and passions for his causes. It all belongs to Him by right but He asks me for some.

However I find myself so often like those evil tenants resisting the Holy Spirit when he comes to me ask me for some of the fruit. When in the morning God ask’s for some of my time to spend time with Him often I roll over in bed and sleep more instead. When Jesus, in the form of a homeless person asks me for some of my money to get a warm meal often I look the other way. When the Spirit nudges me to be of service to my church or my community too often I say i’m too busy.

How much of my time, energy and money have I spent on myself when I could have been fruitful for God? Despite all of this God doesn’t destroy me or evicted from my borrowed life. Instead He sends His Son with an offer of peace. Despite how I may have rejected his messengers the day before His mercies are renewed every morning great is His faithfulness. Everyday I can decide to accept or reject the Son. Everyday I can choose to recognise that my whole life belongs to God or to live for myself. Everyday I have an opportunity to spend some time with Jesus or throw Him out of His own blood-bought vineyard.

P-rayer – Father forgive me for being a poor steward of your gift of life. Forgive me for all the times I have thrown you out of your own Vineyard and crucified the Son of God again. Thank you for your mercies that are new every morning. Today I accept the claim you have over my life. Today I surrender my life to you, use it as you please. May all who read this be led to do the same. Amen.