Reading through and meditating on each of the past Sundays lessons, reminds me of the Latin professor who used an old Latin coat of arms to teach the concept of “dative of possession.”  “CHRISTI CRUX EST MIHI LUX”.  The literal translation would be, “Christ’s cross is to me light”.  But the dative “to me” should be translated in good English, “my”; or “Christ’s cross is my light.”

Jesus’ parable of the vineyard in Luke 20:9-20, whose tenants were unscrupulous, caused an enormous stir among the teachers of the Law and the chief priests. Why? “because they knew that he had spoken this parable against them.” (v.19)

Friends, if we are to embrace the full impact of Jesus’ teaching here we need to understand that he is speaking against “church people” and in particular “church leaders” who have the responsibility of returning the full measure to the owner (God) of the vineyard (Church). So, for our own good, the question is begged: “How have we, leaders of Christ’s Church, acted like the unfaithful and unscrupulous tenants?”