I don’t know about you, but I have a hard time with the Gospel reading about the vineyard tenants. It seems to me that if the vineyard tenants had the benefit of Peter’s words, or internalized the words of Psalm 91, they would have treated the owner’s servants and son not only decently, but kindly. Peter’s words about the interdependence of faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, endurance, devotion, mutual affection, and love are a summary of how to do faith-based community living well. If we all also place our trust in God, surely things will be well.
But, living community well is often difficult, even when everyone has the best intentions.
Obviously, this parable was meant for the chief priests, scribes, and elders. (Even they recognized that, the Gospel tells us.) These were the people living their lives for God in a very particular way, in service to God’s people through prayer and ritual, as educators, as leaders. Their roles came with quite a lot of power in society. Still, I find it hard to believe that power was their objective going into such a life. Perhaps for some it was. Most probably had a sincere desire to serve God and the people of God in the best way they could. They didn’t start out vindictive like the vineyard tenants in the parable, trying to claim the Kingdom of God for themselves, trying to take God’s place out of fear that they would lose the vineyard.
If I am a character in this parable, I am definitely one of the vineyard tenants (but much less violent). I work in ministry, on the parish and campus ministry staff, working in the vineyard to do my small part for the Kingdom. I like to think I know my little corner of the vineyard pretty well because, like most humans, I like having a sense of control. It is hard when someone comes in from a different corner and starts telling me how I should be doing things (and, as I’m sure you know, everyone has an opinion about music). “But I have practiced how to care for this particular plot!” I think. “You don’t know how this part of the vineyard works as well as I do.” I have to remind myself that outside perspectives can be valuable, that listening is often more important that being right, that even my best intentions can miss something. I have to remember to trust God first, and to treat others in the vineyard with love.
[Song: Holy Spirit, Come To Us – Taizé]
Holy Spirit, come to us! Kindle in us the fire of your love. Holy Spirit, come to us! Holy Spirit, come to us!
Molly Mattingly
I grew up in north of Chicago with my parents, brother, and sister. My parents led the 5:00pm Mass music ensemble at my home parish while I was growing up, so you could also say I grew up in a church choir! Music has always been a part of my life, through school choirs, piano lessons, and music ministry. I accompanied and sang in choirs in grade school and at Carmel Catholic High School. During that time, I also swam on my YMCA swim team and worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor at a local park district.
After high school, I studied Music Education and Music Theory at Ithaca College, with an emphasis in piano and choral direction. There I was also co-director of our Catholic Community’s music ministry. I graduated from Ithaca in ’09, and like many of my classmates who graduated the year the recession peaked, was lucky enough to find a place in grad school. I got my Masters in Sacred Music from the University of Notre Dame (go Irish!), where I was involved with the Folk Choir and Notre Dame Vision retreat program. Most recently, I spent two years in Wexford, Ireland as a member and House Director of the House of Brigid, a lay community of young adults dedicated to the renewal of the Church in Ireland through catechesis and music. (Check out their website if you want to see other blog posts I’ve written and see beautiful pictures of Ireland.) And now, my music ministry vocation brought me to Creighton University and St. John’s, where I am the music director at the parish and Campus Ministry!
