Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

Gospel
Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

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.

Reflection

In this gospel, we have a very strong, clear image of what God intends when He creates a community of believers. He calls it the Kingdom of God, a way of life that is there, that is going to be fruitful by its very nature.

It is there to tend, and to care for that which they have been given so that it might be in turn given to others who are in need, who long for the produce that they can produce. It's a beautiful image that we should stay with and hold in our hearts as we consider what it is to be a believer, what it is to be a follower of God.

It is certainly something that produces food nourishment to those around us. 

The Closing prayer

Father. You have made us in such a way that we can become so powerfully a way for you to nourish those that you love. Invite us more and more into that beautiful plan so that we can truly live in your kingdom and bring peace and love to those around us. Amen.

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