Khalil Gibran once wrote “If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. And if they don’t, they never were.” In a very real sense, this describes God’s unbounded love for us. He loves us and out of His generosity has provided each of us with a beautiful vineyard upon which we can produce a bountiful harvest. He only asks for our gratitude and love in return.

Today, here, we are gathered at the table to celebrate the Eucharist, our thanksgiving for all that God has given us.  This is the vineyard of the Lord, where we are fed and renewed. God left us with this vineyard, to tend and to make productive. When God lent it to us the fields were lush and beautiful. What kind of tenants are we? Are we good servants of the table? Do we offer an inviting table, one that includes and welcomes everyone?

And what about your own vineyard? Perhaps it is your home and all that is in it; your garden, your savings, other possessions. Consider your talents and skills that you use every day in work or play. Maybe what you treasure most are the people in your life: your family and friends. Perhaps it is your faith in God and your relationship with Him.

Whatever you consider your vineyard, remember that God planted it with care, put in it all that was needed, and then He leased it to you. All that you treasure, you do not own. Everything you have is leased out to you and you hold it in trust.

At harvest time the owner will send his servants for that portion which is rightfully His and that is when the difficulty often arises. When we have produced a bountiful harvest and are asked to give it up or let go of a portion our inclination is to resist, to claim the results as solely of our own doing, and to conveniently forget that we are only tenants, not owners.

We know from our own experience how hard it is to give up something we treasure. We might object to having to give up our favorite television program.  Although we are not asked to give up the television set, or to give up the program forever, we put up a good fight before we surrender the program for that one night. The same may occur if we have to forgo a night out with our friends, or have to part with some of our money.

Sometimes it costs us dearly to give up the more precious produce of our lives.  When children grow up their parents must let them go.  Workers reach retirement age and have to give up their life-long occupation and their salary. In old age many must give up their independence and sometimes their familiar surroundings as they move to nursing homes.  And death may take from us our nearest and dearest. Is it any wonder that we resist so vehemently when we are asked to give up the produce of our lives?

The remarkable thing is that people do give up what they treasure.  Generous people give their time, energy and money in the service of their families and of others in their local communities and beyond.  People accept the loss of health and youthfulness and independence, and the loss of those they love.

How much better our world would be if everyone saw themselves, not as the owners of what they have, but as tenants, ready to share the produce when they were asked to do so.

We must keep reminding one another that the vineyard is not ours. We just work here. The vineyard belongs to God.