First reading: Is. 5:1–7

Let me now sing of my friend, my friend’s song concerning his vineyard. My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside; 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.

Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard: 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? Now, I will let you know what I mean to do with my vineyard: take away its hedge, give it to grazing, break through its wall, let it be trampled! 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. 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!

Second reading: Phil. 4:6–9

Brothers and sisters: Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

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. 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: Mt. 21:33–43

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 his 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 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.” 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.”

In other words

by Fr. Atilano Corcuera, SVD (Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City)

At times, being human means being anxious and worried about the present an the future. What will happen when I change my work or when I am transferred? What shall I do to escape COVID-19? To be human, we cannot avoid being riddled with anxieties. We are, however, more than human; we are different from animals. We are also called to transcend our humanity because each has a soul; we are immortal. For this reason, St. Paul, in today’s reading, advises us to “Dismiss all anxiety…” He urges us to pray full of gratitude. Prayer and being grateful banish anxieties and bring us God’s peace.

Being human at other times means being angry when rejected, not noticed, criticized, and not being counted. To strike back when unjustly provoked or treated. To react in a passive-aggressive way when even a slight confrontation occurs. These are times when the animal traits in us surface. But again, we are human and destined to go beyond. For this reason, St. Paul declares, “Your thoughts should be wholly directed to all that is true… honest, pure, admirable, decent, virtuous, as worthy of praise.” 

“Then will the God of peace be with you.”