Daily Readings - Sun Oct 08 2017
Isaiah
1Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.2He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.3And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard.4What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes?5And now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard. I will remove its hedge, and it shall be devoured; I will break down its wall, and it shall be trampled down.6I will make it a waste; it shall not be pruned or hoed, and briers and thorns shall grow up; I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it.7For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice, but behold, bloodshed; for righteousness, but behold, an outcry!
Philippians
6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.9What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
Matthew
33"Hear another parable. There was a master of a house who planted a vineyard and put a fence around it and dug a winepress in it and built a tower and leased it to tenants, and went into another country.34When the season for fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to get his fruit.35And the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.36Again he sent other servants, more than the first. And they did the same to them.37Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.'38But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.'39And they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.40When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?"41They said to him, "He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons."42Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?43Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.
Sermon
The readings today invite us to reflect on the themes of responsibility, faithfulness, and the ultimate trust in God’s plan. In the first reading, Isaiah uses the metaphor of a vineyard to describe God’s relationship with his people. The vineyard, symbolizing Israel, was carefully tended by God, who expected it to produce good fruit. Yet, instead of grapes, it yielded only wild grapes, representing the injustice and unfaithfulness of the people. This passage serves as a warning: God’s patience is not infinite, and there comes a time when he will hold us accountable for how we have stewarded the gifts and opportunities he has given us.
In the Gospel, Jesus expands on this theme through a parable about a vineyard owner and his tenants. The owner, representing God, entrusts his vineyard to tenant farmers, expecting them to produce fruit. When he sends his servants—and finally his own son—to collect the fruit, the tenants reject and kill them, motivated by greed and a desire to seize the inheritance for themselves. This parable is a direct critique of the religious leaders of Jesus’ time, who had failed to recognize and respond to God’s presence in their midst. The parable also reminds us that our response to God’s gifts and callings has consequences. Jesus’ reference to the rejected cornerstone underscores the idea that God’s plan will prevail, even if some reject it.
Paul’s letter to the Philippians offers a practical response to these themes. He encourages the community to cultivate a mindset of gratitude and trust in God, rather than anxiety. By focusing on what is true, noble, and praiseworthy, we align ourselves with God’s will and open ourselves to his peace. This teaching complements the other readings by emphasizing that our faithfulness and fruitfulness are rooted in our relationship with God. As we go about our daily lives, we are called to tend the “vineyard” of our lives—our relationships, our work, and our communities—with integrity and love. Let us ask ourselves: Are we producing the fruit of justice, compassion, and holiness? Or are we, like the tenants, resisting God’s grace and failing to recognize his presence in our lives? May we strive to be faithful stewards, trusting in God’s plan and yielding the fruit of a life lived in harmony with his will.