Jesus tells stories that sometime seem pretty far-fetched. Like the one we just heard today. There’s a landowner who goes out of town. So he sends his right-hand people to collect his profits. But his farm hands beat up two of them and send the third running.
So, the landowner sends more of his people, and they get the same treatment. Finally, he sends his son thinking that will do the trick. But wouldn’t you know those two-fisted farmhands couldn’t care a less and treat his son the same way.
What are we to make of this far-fetched story? Consider who Jesus addresses this story to. Like in last week’s Gospel, it’s the religious experts of his day, the chief priests and the elders of the people who are the ones that Jesus tells this story.
In telling this story what does Jesus do? He exposes the hypocrisy of the chief priests and elders of the people. Their sin was greed. They were greedy for the status and power they were given for their perceived holiness. It was an elite holiness that they thought put them over and above others.
When Jesus exposed their hypocrisy what did the chief priests and elders of the people want to do? They wanted to do same thing the farm hands did to the landowner’s son. They want to throttle Jesus, even to the point of eliminating him, which is what they ultimately did.
So, if this is a story about greed the questions is, “What is your greed? What is my greed?” For some, their greed could be money. In a profit-driven world it is often money that speaks loudest.
Or maybe it is the more subtle greed like the greed for the prestige that comes from being successful. Or maybe it’s the greed for the prestige that comes from being well thought of. Or maybe it’s the greed that drives you to get to the front of the line, even if it means having to climb over others to get there.
We can ask ourselves, has there ever been a time when greed for what you wanted so took control of you that you found yourself ready to do what you thought you’d never do? Sobering to think about isn’t it?
Whatever your greed is the invitation is there. Recognize it. Name it. Own it. And then have the courage to humbly go to the back of the line. When we do that, all in line get a chance to enjoy the harvest of God’s goodness that the greedy farm hands wanted to keep for themselves.
This week let generosity, not greed, be the engine that drives you. Then see if life suddenly becomes less complicated. Life works that way when there’s no need to get to the front of the line knowing that you’re loved and where you are in line really doesn’t matter.