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Twenty-Seveth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle A) "The Masters Vineyard"
Who do You say I am? Lectionary: 139 Reading 1 - Isaiah 5:1-7 Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 80:9, 12-16, 19-20 Reading 2 - Philippians 4:6-9 Alleluia - John 15:16 Gospel - Matthew 21:33-43 Liturgical Theme: Stewardship, Fruitfulness, and Radical Peace Introduction: The Song of the Vineyard My brothers and sisters, if you look closely at today’s liturgy, you will notice a vivid image running right through the heart of our readings: the image of a vineyard . In our first reading, the prophet Isaiah sings what scholars call the "Song of the Vineyard". It begins like a tender love ballad: a landowner finds a fertile hillside, clears it of rocks, plants the finest vines, builds a watchtower, and digs out a winepress. He does everything humanly possible to ensure a rich, joyful harvest. But when the time comes to gather the fruit, all he finds are wild, bitter grapes. In our Gospel today, Jesus takes up that exact same image from Isaiah. He ...