The Gospel Proclamation There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it and built a watch tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves.... and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ ..... This is the heir, come let us kill him and get his inheritance’. So they seized him ... and killed him. Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” ... “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and lease the vineyard to other tenants.... Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone ....’ Therefore I tell you the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the Kingdom.....”
Gaze at Jesus’ Sonship Each and every detail of the parable has its own significance - an allegory. God is the householder who planted a vineyard and the vineyard is the chosen people - Israel. The faithless Jews are the tenants. The servants are the prophets. The son of course is Jesus Christ Himself put to death outside the walls of Jerusalem. ‘The Church is a cultivated field, the tillage of God. On that land the ancient olive tree grows whose holy roots were the prophets and in which the reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles was brought about and will be brought about again. That land, like a choice vineyard, has been planted by the heavenly cultivator. Yet the true vine is Christ who gives life and fruitfulness to the branches, that is, to us, who through the Church remains in Christ, without whom we can do nothing. (C.C.C. 755).
Gaze at my sonship The vineyard of the Lord - yes, it is undoubtedly each one of us. Do we yield fruit the way He wants to? How do we serve Him - wholeheartedly or half hartedly? What does God entrust us with? .. a family, a school or a class, an office or an institution. Whether priest or laity, each one of us is called to bear fruit where one is and in a way unique to one. Joseph, in the first reading, is depicted as accepting injustice and imprisonment without complaining as he was sure of God’s help on his side because of deep faith in Him.
Prayer Starter “For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not die but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
