Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary time
Is 5: 1-7, Phil 4: 6-9, Mt 21: 33-43
Dear sisters and brothers,
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 desired fruits. We are the new people of God, the vineyard planted and cared for by Christ. God Looks to us to produce the fruits of justice, holiness, and peace. This is a great privilege and a great challenge too.
The story of the wicked tenants is a parable of salvation history. God, the owner of the vineyard, left his people in the care and protection of religious and political leaders. Their responsibility was to bring the people to fruitfulness in knowing, loving, and obeying God so they might continue to enjoy his love and protection. From time to time God sent his prophets to remind the people of this purpose, but the prophets were abused, rejected, and even murdered. Finally, God sent his son, but he too was reviled and put to death.
Jesus’s mission on earth was to form the church, a new people of God. United by submission and obedience to the Father’s will, they would live out the fullness of God’s life and love, and would one day enjoy the eternal inheritance promised to all the faithful. We are often like the tenants who sought by devious means to obtain the owner’s inheritance (Mt 21:38) and thus become our own Lord and master. There is a pride in the human heart that spurs us to take control of our lives and find fulfillment apart from God and obedience to him.
God’s desire is that the members of his church listen to and commit their lives to his son as they hear God’s word in prayer, scripture, and celebration of the liturgy. It is only through Jesus and in union with him that we can recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit.
As we hear his voice and turn to God, we will “have no anxiety about anything” and our minds will be raised to heavenly realities, enabling us to think about whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and gracious (Phil 4: 6, 8).
If we do what we can, and put our trust in God, then Paul assures us that ‘the peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand will guard your hearts, and minds in Christ’s Jesus.’
Peace comes, not from having an easy and tranquil life. We can have peace even in the midst of struggle and turmoil provided we are on the side of right. Then the God of peace will be with us. Amen!
Peace and all good!
Fr. Valery Burusu
Parochial Administrator