Daily Readings - Sun Oct 04 2020
Isaiah
1I will sing for the one I love a song about his vineyard: My loved one had a vineyard on a fertile hillside.2He dug it up and cleared it of stones and planted it with the choicest vines. He built a watchtower in it and cut out a winepress as well. Then he looked for a crop of good grapes, but it yielded only bad fruit.3"Now you dwellers in Jerusalem and men of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard.4What more could have been done for my vineyard than I have done for it? When I looked for good grapes, why did it yield only bad?5Now I will tell you what I am going to do to my vineyard: I will take away its hedge, and it will be destroyed; I will break down its wall, and it will be trampled.6I will make it a wasteland, neither pruned nor cultivated, and briers and thorns will grow there. I will command the clouds not to rain on it."7The vineyard of the LORD Almighty is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are the garden of his delight. And he looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard cries of distress.
Philippians
6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Matthew
33"Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and went away on a journey.34When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit.35"The tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a third.36Then he sent other servants to them, more than the first time, and the tenants treated them the same way.37Last of all, he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said.38"But when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, 'This is the heir. Come, let's kill him and take his inheritance.'39So they took him and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.40"Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?"41"He will bring those wretches to a wretched end," they replied, "and he will rent the vineyard to other tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time."42Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'?43"Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
Sermon
In today’s readings, we encounter powerful metaphors and exhortations that invite us to reflect on our relationship with God and our responsibilities as disciples. The first reading from Isaiah presents a vivid parable of a vineyard that fails to produce the fruit expected of it, leading to its eventual destruction. This vineyard symbolizes the people of Israel, who, despite God’s care and protection, turned away from justice and righteousness. The second reading from Philippians offers a different tone, urging us to cultivate peace and trust in God through prayer and gratitude, focusing our minds on what is true, just, and holy. The Gospel from Matthew continues the vineyard theme, with Jesus telling a parable that critiques the religious leaders of his time for their rejection of God’s messengers, including His own Son. This parable serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of faithlessness and the ultimate transfer of God’s kingdom to those who will bear its fruits.
The readings are deeply interconnected, as they all revolve around themes of responsibility, faithfulness, and the consequences of our choices. Isaiah’s vineyard and Jesus’ parable both use the image of a vineyard to illustrate God’s expectations for His people and the gravity of failing to meet those expectations. While the first reading and the Gospel emphasize accountability, Philippians offers a complementary message of hope and peace, encouraging us to trust in God’s providence even amidst challenges. Together, these readings remind us that our faith is not merely a set of beliefs but a call to live in a way that reflects God’s justice, love, and holiness.
As we apply these readings to our daily lives, we are invited to examine our own fruitfulness as disciples. Are we producing the fruits of justice, mercy, and love, or are we like the barren vineyard, failing to respond to God’s grace? The readings encourage us to cultivate mindfulness of God’s presence, to trust in His peace, and to focus our hearts and minds on what is truly worthwhile. Let us not become complacent or distracted by the world’s allurements, but instead, let us strive to be faithful stewards of the kingdom entrusted to us. May we turn to God in prayer, seek His will in all things, and bear fruit that reflects the love and light of Christ in our world.