Solitude and Bearing Good Fruits
The parable of the vineyard and the tenants reveal plots and conspiracy by trusted tenants to overthrow and usurp the rights of the landlord.
Fr. Dom explained that God is portrayed as the landlord; the vineyard is Israel; the servants the prophets and the son- Jesus. Today the vineyard is all around us- the church, our home, our workplace – it is our mission ground and we are the trusted tenants. He said God trusted the leaders of the temples to bear good fruits instead he received sour grapes-they schemed to overthrew all that is good and true to secure their position for their own gain.
What is our purpose here?
Fr. Dom further explained that God is giving us many opportunities to be his stewards and bear good fruits. How have we responded? Have we responded with selfish intentions to gain popularity and recognition or have we responded with integrity? We have to know our role and place in our vineyard – we are the servants of the Lord!
In Jeremiah 20:9, ‘Your message burns in my heart and bones, and I cannot keep silent’, we see Jeremiah facing an inner struggle about preaching the word because of fear and scorn he receives. He wants to quit but ultimately remains faithful.
We are called to be trusted and faithful servants of the Lord. Gal 5: 22 gives a list of good fruits we must bear-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If at all we are to bear these fruits we need to be connected to Christ- “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” Jn 15:5. To be connected to Christ, we need solitude. – SR
“We need silence to be alone with God, to speak to Him, to listen to Him, to ponder His words deep in our hearts. We need to be alone with God in silence to be renewed and transformed. Silence gives us a new outlook on life. In it we are filled with the energy of God Himself that makes us do all things with joy.”
— Mother Teresa