The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

Wednesday, April 12, 2006 -- Wednesday in Holy Week

"Morning Reflections" is a brief thought about the scripture readings from the Daily Office of Morning and Evening Prayer according to the practice found in the Book of Common Prayer of the Episcopal Church.

Morning Prayer begins on p. 80 of the Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer begins on p. 117

An online resource for praying the Daily Office is found at www.missionstclare.com
Another form of the office from Phyllis Tickle's "Divine Hours" is available on our partner web site www.ExploreFaith.org at this link -- http://explorefaith.org/prayer/fixed/index.html

Today's Readings for the Daily Office (p. 957)
Psalms 55 (morning) // 74 (afternoon)
Lamentations 2:1-9
2 Corinthians 1:23 - 2:11
Mark 12:1-11


The vineyard is a beloved image for Israel. The prophets and psalmists spoke of Israel as a vine that has been lovingly planted and nurtured by God -- protected, fed, warmed and watered, occasionally pruned for good health. God gives the vine of Israel everything it needs to produce good fruit and wine.

As Mark narrates the growing escalation of conflict, Jesus uses this image of the vineyard to attack the "chief priests, scribes, and elders" -- the elite Jerusalem aristocracy collaborating with the Romans. These are the greedy tenants who will not give to God the fruits of good living. These are the rebellious leaders who will not listen to the prophetic messages of justice, especially the justice due the poor and weak. These are the people with whom Jesus is contending as he tries to bring his message of an alternative kingdom of God. They are too busy protecting their power and making money from the kingdom of Caesar to listen to Jesus' announcement of God's kingdom of compassion.

These are the Temple authorities who on Monday Jesus called robbers. They started looking for a way to kill Jesus on Monday. These are the ones embarrassed by yesterday's encounter when they couldn't answer Jesus' question about John the Baptist. They did not like John's message, but the presence of the crowd intimidated them from saying so. Today, realizing that Jesus' story of the greedy and violent tenants was directed at them, "they wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowd. So they left him and went away."

They will have to find some secret, hidden way to do their dirty business. They don't want the crowd involved. They keep their plots classified, under wraps. They need a traitor who can lead them to a place where they can arrest him out of the glare of the public eye. They need to take him somewhere isolated from common view. They need a different crowd, one they can manipulate and control, in a place where the regular people cannot come. The peasant crowd loves Jesus. Those who are the true Israel listen to him and rejoice.

But not this small, entrenched oligarchy. They are used to running things from the top -- making their decisions in secret and using their power and the influence of empire to their own benefit. It is profitable business. They are willing to use violence to protect it. They won't stand for a little person like Jesus to challenge or expose them.

But for now, the crowds keep them from acting. The crowds protect Jesus. The common peasants respond to his message of compassion. The greedy tenants won't get their chance today. But in the back rooms, they are plotting and planning.