Renting and owning

Today’s Gospel (Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46) gives us a parable about renters who disrespect their landlord.

Renting is a serious matter for some today, especially those reached for the dream of home ownership only to have it end in the nightmare of foreclosure.

The metaphor of renting is also a serious matter in today’s Gospel.

On one level, what is being rented in the parable can be interpreted to be a faith relationship with God: a relationship that is a gift, not a right – a gift that can take only so much abuse.

(Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, be merciful to me – a sinner.)

On another level, what is being rented is life itself: our life was created by God and remains owned by God, who also wrote the terms of the lease.

Our lives are not our own: our lives are owned by God.

May we live that way.