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Gospel: Matthew 21: 33-46
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.”
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables,
they knew that he was speaking about them.
And although they were attempting to arrest him,
they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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This is a very pointed parable, aimed at human responsibility.
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The landowner acted first.
He provided the tenants with everything they needed to produce good wine: he bought the land, put hedges around it, built a tower, and planted the choicest vines.
Then he left, entrusting the future of his vineyard to his tenants.
He set them up for success, expecting good results. But the tenants only produced sour grapes.
Understandably, when the landowner returned, he held them accountable.
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Like that vineyard, the Lord has entrusted the future of Saint Pius X to us – and he expects good results.
We have the opportunity become a spiritual home for hundreds, if not thousands of people; this can be a place where hearts are changed, and God is praised week after week.
I know my own faith has grown since coming here. I’ve met so many genuine, kind-hearted people who are in love with Jesus, and who want to share that love with others.
Together, we can – and I believe will – do great things.
This vineyard will produce “good wine,” because God has given us everything we need to succeed. We have his grace, a beautiful church, generous parishioners, and are developing a vision and mission.
Now it’s just a matter of sharing the Good News.
Who might you invite to join us at St. Pius X?
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