Feeling Gratitude

Three Trees

There were three young trees growing together in the forest, each one healthy and ambitious. As they compared their dreams, one wanted to be built into a castle or a palace, and so play a part in the lives of the high and mighty of society. The second wanted to become the mast in one of the tall ships, sailing around the world with a great sense of adventure. The third hoped to end up as part of some public monument, where the public would stop, admire, and take photographs.

Years passed by, and all three were cut down. The first was chopped up, and parts of it were put together to form a manger for a stable in Bethlehem. The second was cut down, and the trunk was scooped out to form a boat, which was launched on the Sea of Galilee. The third was cut into sections, two of them nailed together to form a cross on Calvary. Each had a unique and special part to play in the one great story of redemption.

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In today’s first reading and gospel we have two parables about vineyards from Isaiah 5:1–7 and Matthew 21:33–43. Both parables begin with great expectations and hope and both end with destruction and violence. Although these parables are similar in many ways, there are some substantial differences.

In Isaiah’s parable the winegrower carefully tended his crop from clearing the land to harvesting only to destroy it in the end when it did not yield an acceptable crop. In Jesus’ parable the winegrower planted the crop then entrusted its care to tenants while he went on a journey. When the tenants attempted to swindle the winegrower, and murder his servants and his son, they were destroyed and the vineyard was passed on to other tenants who were willing to give the winegrower “the produce at the proper times.”

Isaiah and St. Matthew explained the meaning of their parables clearly. Both winegrowers represented God. For Isaiah the vineyard was “the house of Israel” and the plants were “the people of Judah.” The God presented to us in the Old Testament carefully nurtured the vineyard and the crop but ultimately destroyed everything and everyone that did not meet God’s expectations.

In Jesus’ parable the carefully planted vineyard was the kingdom of God and the tenants were the people to whom God entrusted the care of the kingdom; the “chief priests and the elders of the people.” I think it is safe to assume that if the new tenants failed to fulfil their obligations they would meet a similar fate.

What is the lesson for us thousands of years later? These parables are lessons on our stewardship in the kingdom of God. We are as much a part of the kingdom as the people of Judah in Isaiah’s time and the chief priests and elders in Jesus’ time. We have the opportunity to produce good fruit, acknowledging God’s role in the process or we can produce wild (sour) grapes.

God gives us everything we need to build the Kingdom and produce good fruit. He trusts us to do the work. He gives us second and third opportunities to succeed. And, as St. Paul reminds us in today’s second reading from Philippians 4:6–9, God expects us to perform our tasks with an attitude that is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, excellent and worthy of praise. If we can accomplish all of this, then we can be assured that “the God of peace will be with” us forever and ever.

Lord God, our Father,

today you ask us:

What more could I have done for you?

Teach and help us to respond with our whole being

to your daily forgiveness and patience,

to the riches of life brought us by Jesus,

to the prompting of the Holy Spirit,

that we may be a people that bears lasting fruits.

May we bring to all a justice animated by love,

may we learn to share as you do with us.

Show us your mercy through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

12 Steps to Self Care

 

Feast of St Jerome - September 30

St. Jerome Writing

Caravaggio

"Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ."

He translated the Bible into Latin, creating the text known as the Vulgate.

He is a Doctor of the Church.

He is the patron saint of translators, librarians, and biblical scholars.

Prayer for Christ's Mercy

by St Jerome

O Lord, show Your mercy to me and gladden my heart. 

I am like the man on the way to Jericho 

who was overtaken by robbers, wounded, and left for dead. 

O Good Samaritan, come to my aid. 

I am like the sheep that went astray. 

O Good Shepherd, 

seek me out and bring me home in accord with Your will. 

Let me dwell in Your house all the days of my life 

and praise You forever and ever with those who are there. 

Amen.

Feast of the Archangels

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Raphael.

We are familiar with Michael, the fighter and warrior of God, and with Gabriel, God’s messenger to Mary and Zechariah for the birth of their sons. The Archangel Raphael, “the Medicine of God,” appears in the book of Tobit to heal Tobit from his blindness​.

Another Beatitude

Blessed are they who understand.

My faltering step and shaking hand,

Blessed, who know my ears today
Must strain to catch the things they say,

Blessed are they who seem to know
My eyes are dim and my mind is slow,

Blessed are they who looked away,
I spilled my tea on the cloth that day!

Blessed are they who, with cheery smile,
Stopped to chat for a little while,

Blessed are they who know the way
To bring back memories of yesterday,

Blessed are they who never say,
"You've told that story twice today!"

Blessed are they who make it known
That I'm loved, respected and not alone,

And blessed are they who will ease the days
Of my journey home, in loving ways.


By Elizabeth Clark