Jesus said, "There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower." "Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, 'They will respect my son.' But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, 'This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.' So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him." Jesus was actually giving account of the present and the future. The landowner (God the Father) sent slaves (prophets like Moses, Paul, etc.) to spread hope and love and the tenants (the world) did not want any part of what they had to offer. The landowner then sent his Son (Jesus Christ) and people likewise rejected him. The tenants would soon crucify (kill) the Son. Isn't it amazing how even when you and I rejected the good news Christ came to offer God still gave us the opportunity for redemption? What if God had stopped at sending the prophets? What would we have as hope of redemption? What if the crucifixion and resurrection had never occurred because of our disobedience to God's will? What if God stopped caring? Aren't you thankful to have the opportunity even at your worse to see the love of God. No matter who you are. No matter where life's journey God loves YOU. Amen.
***Pray especially for: Terese Gluck, Rose Mauzy, Vicki Fagiana, David Garber and family, Pete & Mary Jane Walburg, Christopher Geagley, Tommy Thompson, John & Delberta Allen, Misty McCoy, Madeline Vaught, Nathan McConnell, Camden Albano, Peggy Ann Turner, Pam Shinault, Jimmy Milas, Katie Armstrong, Donald Kaltenback, and Susan Beeler.
Collect:
ALMIGHTY AND EVERLASTING GOD, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid, and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
(1st Reading Isaiah 5:1-7, Psalm 80:7-14, 2nd Reading Philippians 3:4b-14, Gospel Matthew 21:33-46)
