Isaiah 5:1-7/Ps. 79:9,12-20/Phil. 4:6-9/Matthew 21:33-43

In the first reading, the Prophet Isaiah describes a wine-grower who had done everything he could to make his vineyard fertile and productive. He states that, the vine grower dug, cleared, planted, built, hewed and looked forward for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes. So, despite his generous investment of work and resources, the vineyard offered him back sour grapes instead of good grapes. The Lord speaks about His people through veiled words, using the comparison of His people with a vineyard that He, as the Master of the vineyard had tended and cared for. He acknowledged them as his own, set them apart for himself. The soil they planted in was extraordinary (fertile land), it was a fruitful land.

He planted in it, the best vine, thus set up a pure religion among them, gave them a most excellent law, instituted ordinances very proper for the keeping up of their acquittance with God. As mentioned earlier, He looked forward that it should bring forth good grapes, and he had a great deal of reason for this expectation. So, in spite of all that the Lord had done for the sake of His people, they still disobeyed Him and refused to listen to Him, as they chose to disregard His words and ways.

Beloved, God expects vineyard fruits from those who enjoy vineyard – privileges, not leaves only, because a bare profession of faith, will not be enough.  Good purposes and good beginnings are good things, but not enough; there must be fruits, a good heart and a good life, words and actions agreeable to the Spirit which is the fatness of the vineyard.

In today’s second reading, there is another portrayal of the fruits that God hopes his investment in us will produce. Paul calls on us to fill our minds with everything that is true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise.

Beloved, even though God doesn’t give up on us when our lives fail to bear this kind of fruit, sometimes, we get discouraged by our failings. This is where prayer comes in. When we pray to God out of our need, aware of our weakness, God will always respond to us in a way that builds us up.

The first reading and gospel bring home to us the uncomfortable truth that our lives do not always bear the kind of fruit that such an investment has a right to expect. We do not always fulfil God’s hopes for us. Brethren, the conviction that God (Vine grower) remains faithful to us even after we have disappointed him many times should not leave us complacent. The problem in the Gospel is not about the vineyard, Jesus is clear on that. It is the tenants, the stewards, the chief priests, and elders. The owner’s intention is not to destroy the vineyard, but then he will entrust it all over again to others.

Therefore, beloved, let us pray today that we will make the kind of choices that will create a space for God’s continued investment in us to bear rich fruits both in our own lives and in the lives of those with whom we journey.

ROSARY PRAYER: GLORIOUS MYSTERIES