Misplaced Trust?

Monday, June 1, 2026

2 Pet 1: 2-7; Mk 12: 1-12

Today’s Gospel highlights the betrayal of the landowner’s trust in his tenants.

It is interesting to note the caution that the man who planted the vineyard exercised. Jesus says, ‘The man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press, and built it a tower.’ In other words, he took so much care to protect his plantation from external threats. 

However, he made the mistake of blindly trusting the tenants, who turned out to be wicked in the end. The man who was vigilant about external enemies did not realize that the real enemies were those who would eventually break his trust. 

The wicked tenants use betrayal as a weapon against their master, who chose to love and trust them. I remember a prayer in this regard: ‘God, protect me from betrayers; I will handle my enemies.’ The landowner hoped that they would at least respect his son. But he was wrong. 

The Gospel text raises some important questions: ‘Is it wrong to trust? Should we blame it on those who choose love over hatred and trust over mistrust? What is the value of love if betrayal becomes a way of life?’

When love and trust are God’s language, betrayal should never be our response.

Let us pray that we may return faithfulness to God’s love and trust towards us.

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar