Word to the Wise
Sunday, October 8, 2017 - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time - A
[Isa 5:1-7; Phil 4:6-9; Matt 21:33-43]SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2017. TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME [Isaiah 5:1-7; Philippians 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-43] "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] A good glass of wine is the result of a lot of effort on the part of the growers. I live in a part of Texas where wine grapes are a big crop. I have also visited other areas of the country where wine grapes are grown. A well-kept vineyard is a beautiful sight. The images in Isaiah and Matthew today resonate strongly for me. However, it is important to note that in both scriptures, there is disappointment on the part of the Lord. In Isaiah, it is disappointment that the vines were not properly tended. In Matthew, it is disappointment that the tenants would not hand over the produce or that they even had any! I have just completed preaching a retreat for priests in Arizona. The title of the retreat was "Where are my grapes? The Vineyard and the Cornerstone." Jesus' parable is addressed to the religious leadership. Why are they not fulfilling their task and wasting the vineyard? Anyone who is in a ministerial role in the Church is accountable for their part in tending the vineyard. That accountability includes the attitude taken by the tenants that the crop belonged to THEM and not to the Master of the Harvest! Furthermore, those entrusted with the vineyard have an obligation to "stay in shape" so that they can do their part and create an abundant crop. The retreat was designed to offer ways to to do that, so that when the Master of the Harvest comes, those grapes will be ready to turned to wine! The fundamental question is: "Where are my grapes?" What is our answer? AMEN
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