Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

"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 his 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 vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times."

We might see the murderous tenants and wonder how they could do what they did, but in some ways whenever we sin we throw Jesus out of the vineyards of our souls and when we commit a mortal sin we kill our relationship with Jesus. We might not beat him or nail him to the cross with our own hands, but we join his persecutors in crucifying him at least spiritually. This is why it is so important for us to avoid sin and to remember who we are ultimately answerable to in our lives. Nothing we do is hidden. There is no sin we can hide from God and He knows exactly when and why we throw Him out of our lives and add to his sufferings on the cross. And so, let us not be like the wretched men who crucified our Lord, but rather let us be like the good and faithful servants who give God the good fruits of our lives at the proper times. Then, and only then, can we become co-heirs with Christ and inherit the Heavenly Kingdom.

In what ways do we disrespect God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? How can we live more faithful lives to the Holy Trinity? What can we do to welcome Jesus into the vineyards of our souls and allow him to show us how to bear good fruits?

O Lord, we give you the produce of our lives. Do with them what you will.

Amen.