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October 8, 2023Reflection for 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 8, 2023
Isaiah 5:1-7: In this interesting passage, the “friend” who has the vineyard can be interpreted as God, and the vineyard is commonly interpreted as Israel and Judah. Verse 2 of the passage describes God’s tender care for His people and the attentive efforts that God makes to facilitate His peoples’ comfort, creating a home for them to thrive in, as a nation. After all these efforts, God rightfully expects His people to produce “good fruit,” or virtuous works, in gratitude, but, instead, God finds “wild grapes,” or acts of disobedience and sin by His people.
The remainder of this passage serves as a warning to God’s people, Israel and to us, today. Are we properly grateful to God for the many blessings God has given us? Are we, as Christians, producing “good fruits?” Are we living out our Christian discipleship by serving others with love?
Psalm 80: “The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.” This psalm continues our metaphorical reflection on Israel, or us, the Church, as a vineyard. The first verse recalls God’s delivering captive Israel, from Egypt, during the Exodus, and Israel’s consequent growth and thriving as a nation. The second verse expresses the people’s lack of awareness and comprehension concerning God’s anger at their indifference to obeying and adhering to their Covenant with God and to God’s Commandments.
In the next verse of this psalm, we witness a transformation in the tone of the psalmist to an attitude of repentance. In fear and anxiety, the author calls out to God for help and for restoration of God’s efforts to strengthen (God’s) already present support for the “Son of Man,” or the King of Israel. The psalm ends with a promise of greater faithfulness and more consistent devotion by God’s people after God rescues them from current suffering, brought on by their past unfaithfulness.
Philippians 4:6-9: As we focus on the stress and turmoil that occur for us when we’ve turned away from devotion and obedience to God, it’s a soothing balm to reflect on St. Paul’s comforting words in this passage. Paul encourages us to let go of anxiety and to approach God with humble trust; asking repentance for our sins and making our needs known and feeling confident in God’s loving and generous responses to our petitions. Let’s take time to pray this week to be filled with, what Paul refers to as “the peace of God that surpasses all understanding.” Truly, that peace will, as Paul says “guard our hearts and minds” from fear, confusion, anxiety and any distress. This is the peace for which we’re longing and yet might not even be aware of our “searching spirits!”
Matt 21:33-43: Now, Jesus addresses the unfaithful people of His day and of all time, with this parable about the “ungrateful, disobedient stewards.” It’s very important for us to acknowledge and accept that we’re all the “unfaithful steward,” at times, as we’re all guilty of sin and disobedience to God. Therefore, we all benefit from praying to be made more aware of our sins and our areas of need for change in our lives. Perhaps, we can pray to learn to become more obedient and fruitful servants of the Lord. Jesus warns us that if we fail to repent and be more fruitful; our place in Heaven may be offered to someone else. Do we want to repent of our sins and be forgiven? Are we so prideful that we’re indifferent to our offenses? Let’s strive to be more virtuous!
Pondering peacefully,
Deacon Matt
