Homilies | Father Nathan

Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

— Matthew 20:16

Today’s Readings for Mass During the Day:

First Reading — IS 5:1-7

Responsorial Psalm — PS 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20

The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

Second Reading — PHIL 4:6-9

Gospel Reading — MT 21:33-43

Father Nathan | Homily

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus said to them,

“Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?

Therefore, I say to you,
the kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”

— Matthew 21:42-43

God cares for his people as a good gardener cares for his vineyard

The Old Testament tells us that God cared for his people as a good gardener cares for his vineyard, yet they failed to produce the good and the desired fruits. We are the new people of God, the vineyard planted and cared for by Crist. God Looks to us to produce the fruits of justice, holiness, and peace. This is a great privilege and a great challenge too.

The parable of Jesus is loaded with meaning. Let us ponder over them.

Let’s think of the Parable of the Wicked Tenants as an allegory:

God is the landowner.

As the story goes, the owner, God, made a covenant with the people of Israel, gave them a land flowing with milk and honey and all he asked in return was that they worship him only and keep his commandments. In this way, they were to be a light to the other nations leading them to a life of peace and justice and so, establishing the kingdom of God on earth.

The vineyard is the kingdom of God.

The tenants are the people of Israel.

The tenants were unfaithful. They worshiped other gods. They didn’t keep the law. And they certainly didn’t lead the other nations to the truth of God’s ways. So, God sent prophets to call Israel back its senses. They said things like: Remember how God delivered you from captivity in Egypt? Remember how he fed you with manna in the wilderness? Remember how he gave you victory over the Canaanites, the Amorites, the Hittites, and the Philistines? Remember how he brought you back from exile in Babylon? Turn from your wicked ways and worship Yahweh, who created the heavens and the earth.

The servants are the prophets.

The son is Jesus.

So, God sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ, to earth, not only to proclaim the Good News of God’s love but to show the people of Israel how to live in peace and so, be reconciled to God and one another.

The wicked tenants are those who reject the message of the Gospel (knowledgeable and comfortable people) and the new tenants (simple and ordinary people) are those who accept the Gospel wholeheartedly. The servants are the prophets that God sent, who are persecuted in the world. The son represents Jesus who is sent as the final messenger, and the killing of the son by the tenants refers to his death and crucifixion. The vineyard illustrates the opportunities offered by God and it also represents the Kingdom of God is the vineyard.

God offers us countless opportunities in life and very often we blow up these opportunities, or fail to show appreciation for the privileges we enjoy.

God has invested so much in each of us to the extent that placed a part of himself in each of us and continues to nourish and sustain us. On our part, we have the obligation to be fruitful and to render an account of our stewardship.

Life messages:

Are we good fruit-producers in the vineyard of the Church?  Jesus has given the Church everything necessary to make Christians fruit-bearing.

1. The Bible to know the will of God.
2. The priesthood to lead the people in God’s ways.
3. The Sacrament of Reconciliation for the remission of sins. iv) The Holy Eucharist as our spiritual food.
4. The Sacrament of Confirmation for a dynamic life of Faith.
5. The Sacrament of Matrimony for the sharing of love in families, the fundamental unit of the Church.
6. Role models in thousands of saints. We are expected to make use of these gifts and produce fruits for God.

Amen.

Have a Blessed Week,

Fr. Nathan