Sunday 4 October 2026- XXVII Sunday
in Ordinary Time (year A)
Mass
Readings: Is 5:1-7 Ps 80
Phil 4:6-9 Mt 21:33-43
Key
Verse to Meditate:
"Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he
leased it to tenants and went to another country (Mt 21:33).
My Dear
Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,
The
twenty-fifth Sunday of the year brought to us the parable of the Labourers in
the vineyard (Mt 20: 1-16) where Jesus instructed his disciples
about the merciful love of God that is available for every one before entering
into Jerusalem. The twenty-sixth Sunday of the year reflected the parable of
the two sons who were asked by the father to work in the vineyard (Mt 21:
28-32). And this twenty seventh Sunday in ordinary time of the year comes with
the parable of the wicked tenants of the vineyard entrusted to their care (Mt
21:33-43). All these three Sundays gospel readings are somehow related with the
vineyard. All of them have a special meaning and a message for each of us.
The First
Reading -The vineyard according to the prophet Isaiah
The
vineyard according to the prophet Isaiah is the house of Israel as we heard in
the first reading of today: For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house
of Israel, and the people of Judah are his pleasant planting; he expected
justice, but saw bloodshed; righteousness, but heard a cry! (Is 5:7). In fact,
the first reading reflects a similar situation in the gospel parable as
narrated by Jesus. God predestined Israel as his chosen people but they did not
respond to the call of God.
The
Connection with the Gospel Story
As
reflected in the gospel story, God sent many prophets to teach Israel the
fidelity to the covenant and remain faithful to it. But they rebelled against
Yahweh by not listening and killing many of the prophets sent by God. In the
gospel passage of today, Jesus already predicts the consequences to the Jewish
people of not accepting his message and person as he is the son of God. In the
parable even the son of God was not spared and listened but is killed. That’s
why at the end of today’s gospel, we heard that the religious leaders
understood that the parable was directed to them: When the chief priests and
the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about
them. (Mt 21:45).
The Second
Reading – Becoming Responsible believers
We need to
be responsible believers. As St. Paul instructed his Christian disciples at
Philippi, we need to do everything in our capacity to follow the Lord: Finally,
beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever
is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any
excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen
in me, and the God of peace will be with you (Phil 4:8-9).
The Gospel
Setting
Today’s
gospel setting must have been well known to the Jews and the religious leaders
who were listening to Jesus. In the hills of Galilee, it was common for the
landlords to lease out their states to the tenants and who were contended with
collecting rent for their vineyard. God often gives us many opportunities to
listen to him and change our lives. The parable of the labourers in the
vineyard taught the people that God is kind to everyone and he is not partial
to any one in his economy of grace. Even in the parable of the two sons, we saw
that the two sons had equal opportunity to respond to the call of God. Only the
elder son responded to the message of God after having repented. Finally, the
vineyard owner, God sent his only son that we may have life in abundance (Jn
10:10). It was a sign that God loved each one of us so much that he sent his
son to be with us guiding us in the path to eternal life. But to those to whom
he was sent, was not welcomed but they executed him on mount Calvary. So God
will punish them for their unbelief in the only son of God: "For God so
loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him
may not perish but may have eternal life.
This is
well said and expressed by St. John in his gospel: "Indeed, God did not
send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world
might be saved through him. Those who believe in him are not condemned; but
those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed
in the name of the only Son of God (Jn 3:16-18). The chief priests and
their Scribes understood that Jesus was talking about them in the parable of
the two sons and as well as in the parable of the wicked tenants as Jesus
taught them these parables after his entry into Jerusalem (Mt 21: 1-11).
The
Emerging Church, the New Vineyard of the Lord
Now through
this parable Matthew the evangelist also encouraged his new community, the
emerging Church, the new vineyard of the Lord. The community or the Church is
founded by the Lord. The minsters of the Lord are to take care of the vineyard
that is entrusted to them. The faithful too must respond to the grace that they
have received. We are to be found faithful to the graces that are given to us
by God. If we do not respond to the message of Christ, as he warns his hearers
in the gospel of today, it will be taken away from us and given to those who
have more (Mt 25:28) and those who respond to the kingdom with faith and
fidelity (Mt 21:43).
Rejecting
the owner of the vineyard
In
the gospel Jesus narrated to the chief priest and the religious leaders that,
what they have rejected is not a vineyard worker but the owner of the vineyard.
It was a prophetic message and serious warning to them from Jesus. Jesus
explained through this parable the mentality of them as rebellious people not
willing to accept the son of God as the Messiah. He knew that he will be
rejected and be killed by them. But that’s not the final end. He will rise from
the dead and bring salvation all others other than the Jews who would believe
in him. But they will not able to overcome him but they will be subdued and
punished by him as prophesied by Isaiah: But the LORD of hosts, him you shall
regard as holy; let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. He will become
a sanctuary, a stone one strikes against; for both houses of Israel he will
become a rock one stumbles over-- a trap and a snare for the inhabitants of
Jerusalem. And many among them shall stumble; they shall fall and be broken;
they shall be snared and taken (Mt 21:44; Is 8:13-15; Lk 20:18). Moreover,
Jesus is going to be the corner stone which is rejected by the chief priests
and the elders of the people: The stone that the builders rejected has become
the chief cornerstone. This is the LORD's doing; it is marvellous in our eyes (Mt
21: 42; Ps 118:22-23).
Points
for Personal Reflection
God
is always patient and generous with us. But do I consider these as opportune
moments to repent and return to God? Do I make known to God my requests and
needs in simple faith as St. Paul advices? Do not worry about anything, but in
everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be
made known to God. (Phil 4:6). Do I listen to the message of God given to
me by my spiritual leaders and shepherds of my soul? Do I reject or accept
Jesus and his message?
