Daily Catholic Mass Readings for October 8, 2023
First Reading: Isaiah 5.1-7
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!
Psalm 80
1Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth.2Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh, stir up your might and come to save us!3Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved!4O LORD God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people's prayers?5You have fed them with the bread of tears and given them tears to drink in full measure.6You make us an object of contention for our neighbors, and our enemies laugh among themselves.7Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved!8You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it.9You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.10The mountains were covered with its shade, the mighty cedars with its branches.11It sent out its branches to the sea and its shoots to the River.12Why then have you broken down its walls, so that all who pass along the way pluck its fruit?13The boar from the forest ravages it, and all that move in the field feed on it.14Turn again, O God of hosts! Look down from heaven, and see; have regard for this vine,15the stock that your right hand planted, and for the son whom you made strong for yourself.16They have burned it with fire; they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your face!17But let your hand be on the man of your right hand, the son of man whom you have made strong for yourself!18Then we shall not turn back from you; give us life, and we will call upon your name!19Restore us, O LORD God of hosts! let your face shine, that we may be saved!
Second Reading: Philippians 4.6-9
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.
Gospel: Matthew 21.33-43
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 relationship between God and his people, as well as our own response to his gifts and call. In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a parable about a vineyard that symbolizes the house of Israel. The vineyard, carefully planted and tended by the Lord, was expected to produce good fruit, but instead it yielded wild grapes. This serves as a critique of Israel’s failure to live according to God’s justice and holiness. The second reading from Philippians offers a different tone, encouraging us to trust in God’s providence and to focus on what is true, just, and holy. Paul reminds us that anxiety can be overcome by prayer and gratitude, leading to a peace that surpasses understanding. Finally, the Gospel from Matthew presents another parable about a vineyard, this time focusing on the son who is rejected and killed by the tenants. Jesus uses this story to critique the religious leaders of his time for their rejection of God’s messengers and ultimately for rejecting him, the Son.
These readings are deeply connected. Both Isaiah and Matthew use the vineyard as a metaphor for God’s people and the expectations that come with being chosen by God. In Isaiah, the vineyard’s failure to produce good fruit leads to judgment, while in Matthew, the rejection of the son leads to the transfer of the kingdom to others who will bear fruit. Philippians, while not directly about a vineyard, complements these readings by offering a spiritual response to the challenges of living as God’s people. It encourages us to trust in God’s plan and to cultivate virtues that reflect our identity as his children.
In our daily lives, these readings call us to examine how we respond to God’s gifts and call. Are we producing the fruit of holiness, justice, and love, or are we like the wild grapes in Isaiah’s vineyard? Do we trust in God’s providence, as Paul encourages, or do we allow anxiety and doubt to consume us? The Gospel reminds us that being part of God’s kingdom comes with great responsibility. We are called to be faithful stewards of the gifts we have received and to bear fruit in accordance with God’s will. Let us turn to prayer, thanksgiving, and a focus on what is good, trusting that God’s peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. May we strive to live as true vineyards of the Lord, bearing fruit that reflects his love and mercy.