Our Lady of Lourdes Church and School

In the many years I have enjoyed reading, learning, preaching and teaching on the scriptures, I can honestly say that never once has anyone ever shared with me, even when asked, that today’s gospel is one of their “favorites”. Many people like the Parable of the Prodigal, of the Parable of the Lost Sheep, or the Parable of the Good Samaritan. It’s funny how no one has ever suggested that they like the Parable of the Vineyard. When it is taken with today’s passage from Isaiah, the Parable of the Vineyard clearly offers a word that can sound pretty harsh on our ears.

Isaiah leaves us with no illusion but that God is disappointed with his people who have spurned his covenant and who have chosen to live their lives without reference to the covenant. God expects justice among the people but instead what he finds is bloodshed, and when the people are called to remember who they are and whose they are, they cry out because they don’t want to be reminded. They are furious with the prophet: “he looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed! for justice, but hark, the outcry!”

The Gospel parable has a similar ending and Jesus concludes his teaching with some words very difficult to hear: “Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit."   

This gospel and the first reading prompt a question within me, as pastor of our parish community. Are we, as a parish community, producing good fruit? I believe that we are. There are many good things happening around and about our parish. But when I dig a little deeper, and dare to consider the question more than at the level of the surface of our parish life, I am given cause to wonder more deeply.

There is always a good reason not to dig too deeply into such a question. It is highly likely that when we go deeper, people will be upset. Some in the parish will vehemently disagree with some outreach effort, or change in parish policy when they feel that their views or their livelihood are threatened. In a parish like ours, it sometimes doesn’t even take that much. I remember one of the first people to greet me when I first arrived here six years ago did so with a not-too-subtle caution that if I tried to change anything “we’re a parish of letter-writers”, suggesting that if I upset anyone I’d have to answer to the bishop.

Well, I’m not one to back away from a conversation, whether it's a discussion about something “we’ve always done here at Lourdes” or a challenge that calls our values and basic humanity into question. I remember a couple of years ago getting some negative feedback when I spoke about the Syrian refugee crisis. I’ve had people push back when I’ve spoken about immigration and the overwhelming need for a comprehensive approach to reform. People often suggest that I avoid such difficult topics and leave well enough alone. Trust me… the temptation to silence and the status quo is always very real. However, I can’t morally justify silence when matters of import confront us.

Everyone deserves understanding and charity, even when struggling to bring gospel values and the tradition of the Church to bear on their worldview. However, ultimately, I am a pastor of a church that is Catholic and Christian. As the Gospel of Jesus Christ calls me to continuous conversion, so it calls all of us. It is a good thing for us to look carefully and honestly at our fruitfulness, individually and collectively. God calls to us as surely as he called to the peoples of times past. God expects faithfulness of us today as surely as it was expected in the time of the prophets.