Parable of the vineyard owner
1 October 2023: 26th Sunday of the Year (Cycle A)
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Branwen Jones
Matthew 21: 28-32
Jesus has been discussing John the Baptist with the chief priests and elders and illustrates in this week’s Gospel how their hearts and minds are closed to God’s messengers.
The story of the two sons is also a warning against duplicity and paying lip-service. How easy it is to avoid any confrontation, to just agree and not really mean it.
When asked to work in the vineyard the one son readily acquiesces, saying ‘Certainly, sir’. Those two words reveal much about this young man. He doesn’t simply say ‘yes’ but ‘certainly’ and defers to his father by calling him ‘sir’. It’s a little bit of flattery, the son’s way of showing that he knows his place whilst in reality he has no intention of obeying. It’s so much easier to tell a ‘little white lie’.
By contrast the other son strikes me as the truculent type. His response to his father’s request is flat refusal: ‘I will not go’. No explanation, no addressing his father as ‘sir’. But he reflects on his father’s wishes, changes his mind ‘thought better of it and went.’ In other words, he repented. So too, says Jesus, did the tax collectors and prostitutes when John came to them, God’s messenger and a ‘pattern of true righteousness’.
Despite John’s preaching and the example of repentance shown by such sinners, still the chief priests and elders were unmoved. Jesus doesn’t mince his words but accuses them directly. ‘Even after seeing that, you refused to think better of it and believe in him.’ Similarly they will reject Jesus and his teaching.
The lesson is to always keep an open mind and heart, ready to respond to God’s message and his messengers.
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8th October 2023: 27th Sunday of the Year (Cycle A)
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Cecilia Skudder Cjs.
Matthew 21: v 33 to 43
“Listen…another parable, I tell now to you all.”
And he spoke to scribes and elders, whom now he would enthral.
“The owner of a vineyard, prepared he all the ground.
Built a tower and a press, and completely fenced it round.
He leased it off to tenants, as he went to stay abroad.
Came time to reap the harvest, to receive the just reward.
He sent servants for the grapes, which from his land were tilled.
But the tenants turned on them, and stoned and thrashed and killed.
The landlord sent a further group, who suffered fate the same.
So sure they would respect his son, his heir to them then came.
But then they killed the son as well, for his inheritance now they craved!
Tell me what the father plans, for those men so sore depraved?”
Answered they, “Those wretches, will face a dreadful end,
And the land will go to others, who will harvest to him send.”
Now Jesus said unto them all, “The scriptures have you read?
Though rejected by the builders, this stone’s the cornerstone instead!
The Lord has done this glorious thing, so wonderful to know.
God’s kingdom will be given from you, to those who plenty grow.”
Now You’ve clearly said it Lord, You’ve made our task so plain.
Unless we do the work You set, heaven won’t be our gain.
Look after all in this great world, from the children to the old.
Worship God and feed the poor, let the truth to the world be told. Cjs.
Jesus tells us that we have been given so much, yet still we want more!
Even to destroying others to get it! He warns us that we are responsible for our lives.
What we have will be taken away and given to others unless we live His way.
Jesus is the “Cornerstone,” the world rejected Him.
Every time we sin we reject Jesus.
The Lord has done Glorious things for us; we in turn must repay Him.
Lord, help me to stay true to you.
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Branwen Jones
Matthew 21: 28-32
Jesus has been discussing John the Baptist with the chief priests and elders and illustrates in this week’s Gospel how their hearts and minds are closed to God’s messengers.
The story of the two sons is also a warning against duplicity and paying lip-service. How easy it is to avoid any confrontation, to just agree and not really mean it.
When asked to work in the vineyard the one son readily acquiesces, saying ‘Certainly, sir’. Those two words reveal much about this young man. He doesn’t simply say ‘yes’ but ‘certainly’ and defers to his father by calling him ‘sir’. It’s a little bit of flattery, the son’s way of showing that he knows his place whilst in reality he has no intention of obeying. It’s so much easier to tell a ‘little white lie’.
By contrast the other son strikes me as the truculent type. His response to his father’s request is flat refusal: ‘I will not go’. No explanation, no addressing his father as ‘sir’. But he reflects on his father’s wishes, changes his mind ‘thought better of it and went.’ In other words, he repented. So too, says Jesus, did the tax collectors and prostitutes when John came to them, God’s messenger and a ‘pattern of true righteousness’.
Despite John’s preaching and the example of repentance shown by such sinners, still the chief priests and elders were unmoved. Jesus doesn’t mince his words but accuses them directly. ‘Even after seeing that, you refused to think better of it and believe in him.’ Similarly they will reject Jesus and his teaching.
The lesson is to always keep an open mind and heart, ready to respond to God’s message and his messengers.
*****************************
8th October 2023: 27th Sunday of the Year (Cycle A)
Parishioner’s Gospel
Contributor: Cecilia Skudder Cjs.
Matthew 21: v 33 to 43
“Listen…another parable, I tell now to you all.”
And he spoke to scribes and elders, whom now he would enthral.
“The owner of a vineyard, prepared he all the ground.
Built a tower and a press, and completely fenced it round.
He leased it off to tenants, as he went to stay abroad.
Came time to reap the harvest, to receive the just reward.
He sent servants for the grapes, which from his land were tilled.
But the tenants turned on them, and stoned and thrashed and killed.
The landlord sent a further group, who suffered fate the same.
So sure they would respect his son, his heir to them then came.
But then they killed the son as well, for his inheritance now they craved!
Tell me what the father plans, for those men so sore depraved?”
Answered they, “Those wretches, will face a dreadful end,
And the land will go to others, who will harvest to him send.”
Now Jesus said unto them all, “The scriptures have you read?
Though rejected by the builders, this stone’s the cornerstone instead!
The Lord has done this glorious thing, so wonderful to know.
God’s kingdom will be given from you, to those who plenty grow.”
Now You’ve clearly said it Lord, You’ve made our task so plain.
Unless we do the work You set, heaven won’t be our gain.
Look after all in this great world, from the children to the old.
Worship God and feed the poor, let the truth to the world be told. Cjs.
Jesus tells us that we have been given so much, yet still we want more!
Even to destroying others to get it! He warns us that we are responsible for our lives.
What we have will be taken away and given to others unless we live His way.
Jesus is the “Cornerstone,” the world rejected Him.
Every time we sin we reject Jesus.
The Lord has done Glorious things for us; we in turn must repay Him.
Lord, help me to stay true to you.