October 8, 2017: Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
“Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain the produce.
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned.
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way.
Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and acquire the inheritance.’
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?”
They answered him, ‘He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyards to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.”
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 21:33-43)

Reflection

We have heard the phrases “Black Lives Matter,” “Blue Lives Matter,” “Young Lives
Matter,” “Old Lives Matter,” “All Lives Matter.”
But do we hear Jesus calling “us to matter;” to help Him build the Kingdom of God? To be the cornerstones in our families, our parishes, our communities?
Jesus warns us that the Reign of God will be taken away from us and given to those who will work with him to build a better world, if we do not do our part and be one with Him.

Action

Take time to reflect on a situation recently when you failed to take seriously His challenge to cultivate His vineyard — whether it be your family, parish, or community.
What can you do now to rectify the situation?