Many of us have driven to the central coast of California, to the Santa Ynes, Napa and Sonoma Valleys. The acres of grapevines punctuated by wineries offer a sense of beauty, of plenty and of graceful living. From ancient times, vineyards have been symbols of peace and security. One had to be secure in one’s place and lifestyle to have the time to plant vines, wait for them to produce fruit and then begin the process of wine production. For people in the time of Jesus, wine was a symbol of peace, celebration, security and community and because of that, the vineyard was regarded almost as holy ground. The desecration of a vineyard would be considered among the most vile of acts.

The words on the cornerstone of our Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels quote the prophet Isaiah (56) “My house will be a house of prayer for all people.” Cornerstones originally were set as the first block of a building that defined the axis of the structure and gave strength to the rising walls. Today, cornerstones take on a much more symbolic role, defining the function or philosophy of the building, recognizing that a building is just a pile of material without a role in the community.

In today’s Gospel, we have the parable of the vineyard where the owner plants the vines, secures the plot with a hedge and tower and hires laborers to care for it. These laborers desecrate the vineyard by persecuting and killing the messengers of the owner, including the owner’s son. Not only do these laborers renege on their contract with the owner to pay him his part of the harvest but they shed blood on that holy ground. When the chief priests and elders are questioned about what the owner will/should do to those unfaithful workers, they respond that, “he will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to others.” These others will become the “cornerstone” of the Kingdom, allowing it to grow and produce fruit that will not just sustain life but celebrate it.

The parable is a practical story about the Kingdom of God that we encounter each day in our own lives. Where is the ‘vineyard’ in which we work? Our homes and families? Our jobs? Our community? Our Church? Do we respect it as the holy ground that God has given to us to use and make fruitful? Are we willing to become the cornerstone of the Kingdom that supports, sustains and celebrates the reign of God here and now?

As we look forward to celebrating our 75th anniversary, we can reflect on those people who formed the cornerstone for our parish community on which we have continued to build. We also ask that the Lord make our vineyard fruitful so that those who come after us might be strengthened and enriched by the work and ministry in which we have participated.