Today’s gospel is another of those instances. Jesus speaks of a landowner who entrusts his vineyard to tenants, only for them to succumb to greed, rejecting his messengers and even killing his son. He warns, “The Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”

During this Lenten season, let us reflect: In what areas of our lives have we been called to be faithful stewards? Are we tending to our responsibilities with integrity, compassion, and fear of the Lord, or are we neglecting and abusing the gifts entrusted to us? May we be gracious laborers, caring well for the fields and vineyards of God.

_{^{Image Credit: Léon-Augustin Lhermitte, (French, 1844-1925) Harvesting, Late Afternoon, ca. 1893-1903, Oil on canvas, Raclin Murphy Museum of Art, University of Notre Dame. The Muriel S. and Noah L. Butkin Collection, 2009.045.076.}}