Have you ever felt like your attempts at prayer are a waste of time? I have. Early in my priesthood, I noticed that my prayer life was weakening. Awe and eager expectancy of contact with God had given way to routine. I gradually spent less and less time praying. Nothing dramatic had happened, but my attitude toward God had changed, and I was losing the desire to pray. Jesus’ parable of the insane vineyard tenants speaks into this kind of experience. He says the landowner “leased it to tenants and went on a journey” (Matthew 21:33). The key to this message is that the vineyard does not belong to those who work it — they are entrusted with it. But little by little, they view it as their possession, and ungrateful entitlement follows. The servants sent by the owner are treated as intrusions. Even the owner’s son becomes a means to their delusional self-will. The central tragedy is not violence but the forgetfulness that spawns it. They need reminding how lucky they are to be given so much. Eventually, God sent friends to remind me that my relationship with Him  and my prayer time are not my possessions, but rather God’s tremendous gifts to me. Perhaps you are feeling discouraged for some reason or other these days in your walk with God. Ponder this parable and let it be a gentle reminder that you and I are fortunate stewards, and God is the generous giver. This allows us to rediscover the beauty of the vineyards in our lives and to remain energetic in cultivating his gifts.
— Father John Muir
©LPi