13th Sunday of Matthew
Scripture: Matthew 21:33-42
It’s beneficial to possess a sense of ownership, but at times, this sentiment becomes overly pronounced. As the tenants’ pride began to swell, they gradually adopted the belief that they themselves, rather than the landowner, were the rightful owners of the land they were cultivating.
When the landowner’s servants, and subsequently his son, make an appearance, the tenants are presented with a choice: they can either surrender the harvest, which they diligently toiled for, thereby humbling themselves, or they can eliminate the presence of the servants.
They opted to eliminate both the servants and the landowner’s son. Their choice led them down the path of murder, and the outcome was far from favorable: they met a wretched demise.
This parable from today’s teachings elucidates that we are mere stewards of all that we possess, and God—the true landowner—will eventually return. To assist us in becoming conscientious stewards, Jesus imparts to us the spiritual discipline of fasting.
While fasting serves various purposes, a significant one is to remind us that the world isn’t simply at our disposal for self-indulgence. By instilling discipline in our eating habits, we learn to perceive the world as a bestowed gift from God—one that we are entrusted to nurture and safeguard.
As we tend to the preservation of creation, we embrace our designated role as priests within the royal priesthood. We elevate the act of creation in gratitude, presenting the harvest as an offering back to God. Through this process, we undergo transformation akin to the metamorphosis of bread into the Body of Christ.
While our fasting need not be a spectacle for others, it doesn’t escape the notice of the heavenly Father. He observes and accepts our expressions of thankfulness. In response, He bestows rewards upon us, adopting us as His own children.