Once upon a time, a farmer built a beautiful vineyard on a fertile hillside. He prepared its soil, planted the choicest vines, and worked hard to cultivate and maintain the vineyard. But at harvest time, he found that his vineyard yielded nothing but wild grapes. In great disappointment, he stopped caring for the vineyard. And it turned into a ruin.
This powerful story comes from the Book of Isaiah (see Isaiah 5:1-7). The farmer and the vineyard represent God and Israel. God took very good care of Israel and made them His chosen people. He wanted them to live in holiness and help other nations to come into His kingdom. But Israel chose to turn away from God, fell into sins, and failed terribly in keeping the covenant it made with God on Mt. Sinai (see Exodus 19:1-8). Israel eventually fell to Assyria in 732 BC.
But what the vineyard points to is more than Israel. It also points to every Christian who, through baptism, has entered into a covenant relationship with God. It points to you, to me, to every Christian who has been blessed to receive the baptismal grace. We are God’s vineyards, everyone of us! We have in us very fertile soil that God has lovingly prepared for us.
Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:12)
“The noble confession” referred to above is our baptismal vow. God has journeyed with us. Through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation, He has washed us clean, put His seal upon us, poured His Spirit into our hearts and made us His adopted “sons” by virtue of the salvific grace of His only Son (cf. 2 Corinthians 1:22, Ephesians 1:5).
