1ST READING
It
is not that God will destroy those who refuse to listen to His Word but
that in choosing not to listen to God’s Word, people place themselves
outside the ambit of His will and grace and, thus, bring troubles and
sin upon themselves. Sin and disobedience are the active agents in the
destruction of peoples’ lives, not God. We need to learn that if we
place ourselves in God’s hands, He can work in our lives. If not, then
we are choosing not to have God as a part of our lives.
Isaiah 5:1-7
1 Let me now sing of my friend, my friend’s song concerning his vineyard. My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside; 2 he
spaded it, cleared it of stones, and planted the choicest vines; within
it he built a watchtower, and hewed out a wine press. Then he looked
for the crop of grapes, but what it yielded was wild grapes. 3 Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard: 4 What
more
was there to do for my vineyard that I had not done? Why, when I looked
for the crop of grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes? 5 Now,
I will let you know what I mean to do to my vineyard: Take away its
hedge, give it to grazing, break through its wall, let it be trampled! 6 Yes, I will make it a ruin: it shall not be pruned or hoed, but overgrown with thorns and briers; I will command the clouds not to send rain upon it. 7 The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his cherished
plant; he looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed! for justice, but hark, the outcry!
P S A L M
Psalm 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20
R: The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.
9 A vine from Egypt you transplanted; you drove away the nations and planted it. 12 It put forth its foliage to the Sea, its shoots as far as the river. (R) 13 Why have you broken down its walls, so that every passer-by plucks its fruit, 14 the boar from the forest lays it waste, and the beasts of the field feed upon it? (R) 15 Once again, O Lord of hosts, look down from heaven, and see; take care of this vine, 16 and protect what your right hand has planted, the son of man whom you yourself made strong. (R) 19 Then we will no more withdraw from you; give us new life, and we will call upon your name. 20 O Lord, God of hosts, restore us; if your face shine upon us, then we shall be saved. (R)
2ND READING
It
does not matter what sins others are committing. We still have the
responsibility and option to choose otherwise. Just because someone else
is doing it is a lousy
reason to follow them. Living the moral life is more complicated than
just doing what we see around us; we must exert the effort to discern
what is the correct thing to do in whatever situation we find ourselves.
Only then can the grace of God, the power given to us to grow in
holiness, work to its full extent.
Philippians 4:6-9
6 Brothers
and sisters: Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. 7 Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally,
brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever
is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if
there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.
9 Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.
GOSPEL
This
is a parable about being responsible for the gifts and graces we have
received. If we ignore them or refuse to use them for the good of the
Church, they may be taken away from us and given to those who will use
them as they should be used. This is all about the proper allocation of
resources. If a gift is unused by one person, then God may as well give
it to someone who will use it properly.
GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
I have chosen you from the world, says the Lord, to go and bear fruit that will remain.
Matthew 21:33-43
33 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. 34 When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. 35 But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. 36
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. 37 Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But
when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the
heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ 39 They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants
when he comes?” 41 They
answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and
lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the
proper times.” 42 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?’ 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.”
think: We must exert the effort to discern what is the correct thing to do in whatever situation we find ourselves.
T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST
Thank You Lord for: __________________
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God’s special verse/thought for me today_
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Ecclesiastes 9-12
SABBATH PAUSE
My weekly time with God
THANK YOU LIST
Things to be grateful for from the past week
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SPECIAL NEEDS
Things to ask God for in the coming week
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HIDDEN TREASURE
Most important word God told me this week
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