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Fr George's Letter

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Written by: Fr George

 

THE WICKED TENANTS.

 

“The virtues build a new person radiating love to the world.”

(Metropolitan Paul (Yazigi) of Aleppo who consecrated our temple.)

 

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” 

                                                                                                 (Hebrews 4:15-16)

 

SUNDAY 30^th AUGUST. Sts. Alexander (340), John (595), & Paul the New (784), Patriarchs of Constantinople. Synaxis of the Serbian Hierarchs. St. Fiacre, Hermit of Meaux (670). St. Alexander, Abbot of Svir (1533). Translation of the relics of St. Alexander Nevsky (1724).

 

“Speak well of those who speak evil of you. Pay good for evil. Pray for those who cause you various offences, wrongs, temptations, persecutions. Whatever you do, on no account condemn anyone; do not even try to judge whether a person is good or bad, but keep your eyes on that one evil person for whom you must give an account before God - yourself.”  (St. Ignatius Brianchaninov)

 

“We must always remember that the Lord sees us wrestling with the Enemy, and so we must never be afraid. Even should all hell fall upon us, we must be brave.” (St. Silouan the Athonite)

 

TODAY’S GOSPEL. Matthew 21:33-42. “ “Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge round it, dug a wine-press in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. “Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vine-dressers, that they might receive its fruit. “And the vinedressers took his servants beat one, killed one, and stoned another. “Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them. “ Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying ‘They will respect my son. But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruit in their seasons.” Jesus said to them, “Have you never read the Scriptures:

                             ‘The stone which the builders rejected 

                              Has become the chief cornerstone.

                             This was the Lord’s doing, 

                             And it is marvellous in our eyes’?” 

 

Today’s parable in simple terms can be explained as the landowner is God the Father, the two lots of servants sent to the vineyard are the Holy Prophets and the landowner’s son is Christ Himself. The vineyard can be interpreted as the people of Israel who God chose and nurtured, but whose leaders and men of power failed to treasure the gifts of God. The Prophets were often treated badly or ignored and Jesus Himself was murdered at the instigation of the Jewish establishment, inciting the crowds to cry out “Crucify Him!”

We are called upon to be the new vinedressers who will tend the vines of God’s Church. We must not see what we can get out of the Church, either emotionally or spiritually, whatever it may be; but strive to help establish and strengthen it so that it yields a harvest of souls for God. It is then that we receive the benefits of emotional and spiritual well-being and blessings.

The rejected stone, the murderd Jesus, the One cast aside is no longer an irrelevance but has become the foundation of the new vineyard which is the Church. Ours, as workers in the field, is a great responsibility that we cannot take lightly, it is a task for all of us individually and collectively. We are all very different as children in a family often are, but we are blessed that we have free will and have been able to choose our spiritual family. It is this family we must cherish and love. The outpouring of love in our humble parish is a joy to behold and a treasure to protect. The world may seem dark but our little light may be passed on so that darkness is dispelled, faith strengthened, and the love of God made visible to all.

 

                                                                                       Much Love,

 

                                                                                       Fr. George.