First Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7
Reflection:
The story in this first reading foreshadows the parable Jesus shares in this Sunday’s Gospel reading. Here God is speaking and illustrating the situation of His people, the Israelites. God had prepared a promised land for them, and given them the holy city of Jerusalem. As the passage explains, “The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his cherished plant.” God planted His people in the promised land to bear good fruit, but all that came about was wild grapes. In other words, although God did everything correctly in preparing, planting, and tending His vineyard, good fruit was not yielded. Why? Because the people of Israel were hard-hearted and resistant. They rejected God’s grace and did not allow themselves to bear good fruit. As a result, God promised to destroy the vineyard. He would let it become overgrown and lay in ruin. This may seem harsh, but it will make more sense when we read the “Parable of the Tenants” in the Gospel reading. This passage from Isaiah ultimately points forward to the time of Christ when the leaders of Israel would reject God’s own son, resulting in their ruin and a new beginning in God’s vineyard.
Second Reading: Philippians 4:6-9
Reflection:
Can you imagine a life with no anxiety? That’s what the Apostle Paul calls us to in this Sunday’s second reading, and he indicates that it is, in fact, possible. If we bring our requests, our needs, and our petitions, to God and surrender everything to Him in prayer and thanksgiving, then we can be relieved of anxieties and have peace. The peace that God offers is not merely circumstantial, fleeting peace, based on feelings, but it is true peace that goes deeper than emotion and surpasses our situations, offering us security throughout any challenges we may face. How do we find this peace? It comes through a loving personal relationship with God. We can invite Him into our whole lives and entrust all that we are and all that we have to Him. Paul calls us, in particular, to fill our minds with everything true, good, and beautiful. We can so easily get distracted and caught up in things that are harmful to our souls. But if we think about “whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, etc.,” we welcome God’s peaceful presence in our lives.
Gospel Reading: Matthew 21:33-43
Reflection:
Like in the first reading, in this parable, Jesus speaks of a vineyard. The landowner here represents God, and the vineyard represents the kingdom of God and the city of Jerusalem, in particular. Like in the first reading, God prepared everything in the vineyard. He then leased it to tenants, who represent the leaders of Israel. They were given charge of God’s kingdom and called to be good stewards in order to bring about good fruit. But they were hard-hearted and rejected God’s messengers. The servants who were sent represent the prophets of the Old Testament, who were persecuted and even killed for warning the Israelites of their sins. The son, then, represents Jesus Christ, the only Son of God. The leaders of Israel not only rejected God’s prophets but rejected His son, the Messiah. Jesus’ parable, in fact, foreshadows His own crucifixion. Jesus, the son, would be seized, thrown out of the city of Jerusalem, and crucified outside its gates. As a result, Jesus says that the kingdom of God will be taken from the Israelite leaders and given to another people to tend it and bear good fruit. The Church–which was instituted by Christ, is guided by the Holy Spirit, and includes people from all nations–has been entrusted with the care of the vineyard, which is the kingdom of God. As members of the Church, let us, therefore, be good caretakers of God’s vineyard, so that there will be good fruit produced, for the glory of God.
Application:
- In what areas of your life do you struggle to trust God? Reflect on how this prevents you from bearing good fruit. Then, bring any anxiety you are struggling with to God in prayer, asking Him to bring you “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.” Finally, take time to meditate on and thank God for the many blessings you have been given.
