Readings for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time[1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1: Isaiah 5:1-7
This selection marks the beginning of what is known as the “Song of the Vineyard”. Using the analogy of vineyard as the “hosts of the house of Israel”, the prophet first describes how the people had been prepared by the law and the prophets. The implication is that all preparations had been made to produce God’s intended result. However, the “stiff necked” people turned away from God “…but see, bloodshed! for justice, but hark, the outcry!” Isaiah warns the people that God will cause the house of Israel to be destroyed- a clear reference to the Babylonian Exile.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20
R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
Psalm 80 is a communal lament. In these strophes the image of the vineyard is applied to the house of Israel. The destruction of the vineyard is also referenced in support of Isaiah’s imagery form Isaiah 5:1ff. The psalmist entreats the Lord to restore the people to favor and rescue them from their situation.
Reading II: Philippians 4:6-9
St. Paul begins this address, as part of a series of ethical instructions, by exhorting the Christian community to prayer. Through prayer God’s peace will come into their hearts and minds as a gift from Christ Jesus. He calls upon them to meditate upon the great good that is provided through God and provides a litany of adjectives; true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and gracious as descriptors of Christ’s actions in their midst. Through a focus on what is excellent they will achieve the peace of Christ.
Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43
St. Matthew describes Jesus applying the Parable of the Vineyard as he confronts he Jewish leadership. His motivation is clearly to let them know that by rejecting Jesus and his message about the Kingdom of God, they have forfeited their place in the that kingdom. The description used for the vineyard is remarkably similar to Isaiah 5:1ff (above). Reference to the servants who were beaten and killed refers to the prophets similarly treated. The reference to the landowner’s son is an obvious reference to Jesus as the Son of God. The scripture quote of Psalm 118:22-23 was seen in the early church as a reference to Jesus’ resurrection. This is seen as the vindication of the Lord and God.
Reflection:
For the past two days I have been at a convocation for the deacons of the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan. The focus of this gathering has been preaching the word of God. At Mass this morning the Gospel from St. Matthew was proclaimed and I would like to repeat an exhortation given to us by Bishop Boyea, Bishop of Lansing.
In his homily on these same readings he pointed out that each one of us has our own, God given, vineyard. The produce of that vineyard belongs to God who gave us the gifts with which we produce the fruits of our labors. The emphasis is that the crop belongs to God and he wants it all.
The bishop followed the analogy through pointing out that St. Paul in his reading from the Philippians showed us one way to produce that fruit. We are to focus on the noble and good things God has given us- be a people of peace and love. In this way, what we have been given will be passed on. We sow the seeds of God’s love with out attitudes.
Christ, the Son who came into the world to reveal the love of God, calls to us to be gracious stewards of what has been entrusted to us. He now sends this word to remind us that we will be held accountable and God’s expectation is that we will provide a bountiful crop. Our prayer today must be that we have the faith and strength to fulfill our promise to him and can bring him all he desires of us.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used today is “The Heir of the Vineyard” by James Tissot 1886-96
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1: Isaiah 5:1-7
This selection marks the beginning of what is known as the “Song of the Vineyard”. Using the analogy of vineyard as the “hosts of the house of Israel”, the prophet first describes how the people had been prepared by the law and the prophets. The implication is that all preparations had been made to produce God’s intended result. However, the “stiff necked” people turned away from God “…but see, bloodshed! for justice, but hark, the outcry!” Isaiah warns the people that God will cause the house of Israel to be destroyed- a clear reference to the Babylonian Exile.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20
R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
Psalm 80 is a communal lament. In these strophes the image of the vineyard is applied to the house of Israel. The destruction of the vineyard is also referenced in support of Isaiah’s imagery form Isaiah 5:1ff. The psalmist entreats the Lord to restore the people to favor and rescue them from their situation.
Reading II: Philippians 4:6-9
St. Paul begins this address, as part of a series of ethical instructions, by exhorting the Christian community to prayer. Through prayer God’s peace will come into their hearts and minds as a gift from Christ Jesus. He calls upon them to meditate upon the great good that is provided through God and provides a litany of adjectives; true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and gracious as descriptors of Christ’s actions in their midst. Through a focus on what is excellent they will achieve the peace of Christ.
Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43
St. Matthew describes Jesus applying the Parable of the Vineyard as he confronts he Jewish leadership. His motivation is clearly to let them know that by rejecting Jesus and his message about the Kingdom of God, they have forfeited their place in the that kingdom. The description used for the vineyard is remarkably similar to Isaiah 5:1ff (above). Reference to the servants who were beaten and killed refers to the prophets similarly treated. The reference to the landowner’s son is an obvious reference to Jesus as the Son of God. The scripture quote of Psalm 118:22-23 was seen in the early church as a reference to Jesus’ resurrection. This is seen as the vindication of the Lord and God.
Reflection:
For the past two days I have been at a convocation for the deacons of the Diocese of Lansing, Michigan. The focus of this gathering has been preaching the word of God. At Mass this morning the Gospel from St. Matthew was proclaimed and I would like to repeat an exhortation given to us by Bishop Boyea, Bishop of Lansing.
In his homily on these same readings he pointed out that each one of us has our own, God given, vineyard. The produce of that vineyard belongs to God who gave us the gifts with which we produce the fruits of our labors. The emphasis is that the crop belongs to God and he wants it all.
The bishop followed the analogy through pointing out that St. Paul in his reading from the Philippians showed us one way to produce that fruit. We are to focus on the noble and good things God has given us- be a people of peace and love. In this way, what we have been given will be passed on. We sow the seeds of God’s love with out attitudes.
Christ, the Son who came into the world to reveal the love of God, calls to us to be gracious stewards of what has been entrusted to us. He now sends this word to remind us that we will be held accountable and God’s expectation is that we will provide a bountiful crop. Our prayer today must be that we have the faith and strength to fulfill our promise to him and can bring him all he desires of us.
Pax
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture used today is “The Heir of the Vineyard” by James Tissot 1886-96
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