Twenty-Seventh Sunday of the Year (Year A)

 Twenty-Seventh Sunday of the Year, 

October 04, 2026

Isaiah 5:1-7   Philippians 4:6-9   Matthew 21:33-43

(Image courtesy: AI)

There was once an old gardener who had spent many years caring for a vineyard. Every morning, before the sun became too hot, he would walk through the vineyard, examine the vines, remove the weeds, loosen the soil, and water the plants. He treated each vine almost like a member of his family. One year, after months of careful work, he expected an abundant harvest. But when the grapes finally appeared, he discovered that many of them were small, sour, and bitter. The gardener was deeply disappointed.

His young grandson, who had watched him work all year, asked, “Grandfather, why are you sad?” The old man replied, “I gave these vines everything I could. I prepared the soil, protected them, watered them, and cared for them. I was hoping they would give something beautiful in return.” The boy looked at the vines and said, “Grandfather, perhaps the vines did not understand how much you loved them.” The old man remained silent.

That simple sentence stayed with him. He realized that the greatest tragedy was not simply that the vines had produced bad fruit. It was that something which had received so much care had failed to become what it was created to be.

This image takes us directly into today's readings. Both Isaiah and Jesus speak about a vineyard. In both passages, the vineyard represents God's people. The owner carefully prepares everything, provides everything necessary, and patiently waits for good fruit. Yet the harvest disappoints him. The first reading from Isaiah presents the beautiful Song of the Vineyard. The beloved carefully prepares a vineyard on a fertile hill. He clears the stones, plants the finest vines, builds a watchtower, and prepares a winepress. Everything necessary for a good harvest has been provided.

Then comes the heartbreaking question: “Why did it yield wild grapes? The prophet explains that the vineyard represents Israel. God had chosen His people, protected them, guided them, and blessed them. In return, He expected justice and righteousness. Instead, He found injustice and violence.

The message is not simply about ancient Israel. It is also about us. God has planted each of us in the vineyard of life. He has given us gifts, opportunities, relationships, education, faith, time, and countless experiences of His grace. The question is: What fruit are we producing? God does not give us blessings merely for our comfort. Every blessing carries a responsibility. If God has given us education, what good are we doing with it? If He has given us influence, whom are we helping? If He has given us faith, are we sharing that faith through our lives? If He has given us love, are we becoming more loving?

The second reading from St Paul gives us the attitude we need in order to produce good fruit. Paul tells the Philippians, “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” This is especially relevant because anxiety can prevent us from becoming fruitful people. We become so worried about the future that we forget to live faithfully in the present.

Paul does not say that Christians will have no problems. Instead, he teaches us how to face them. Bring everything to God in prayer. Then he promises that “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,” will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Prayer changes our relationship with our difficulties. The problem may remain, but we no longer carry it alone. Paul then tells us to focus on whatever is true, honourable, just, pure, pleasing, and commendable. In other words, what we allow into our minds eventually shapes the kind of fruit our lives produce.

The Gospel gives us another vineyard story. Jesus speaks about a landowner who plants a vineyard, builds a fence, digs a winepress, and entrusts it to tenants. When harvest time arrives, he sends servants to collect the fruit. But the tenants beat one servant, kill another, and stone another. Finally, the landowner sends his son. They kill him too.

Jesus is speaking about the prophets who were rejected by God's people and ultimately about Himself, the beloved Son. The tragedy of the parable is that the tenants wanted the vineyard without acknowledging the owner. They wanted the gifts without the responsibility. They wanted possession without accountability. Isn't this sometimes our temptation? We want God's blessings, but we do not always want God's expectations. We want the vineyard, but not the responsibility of producing fruit.

Jesus asks us to remember that everything we possess is ultimately entrusted to us. Our lives are gifts. Our time is a gift. Our talents are gifts. Our relationships are gifts. Even our faith is a gift. The question is not simply, “What has God given me?” The deeper question is, “What have I given back to God?”

There are three important life messages for us today.

First, produce good fruit with the gifts God has given you. Faith must become visible through love, kindness, justice, generosity, forgiveness, and service.

Second, replace anxiety with prayer. When worries become heavy, bring them to God. Prayer does not always change the situation immediately, but it changes the heart that faces the situation.

Third, remember that your life is entrusted to you, not owned by you. Everything we have is ultimately God's gift. We are called to be faithful stewards and to return a harvest of love.

Let us return to the old gardener and his vineyard. He had given the vines everything he could. He prepared the soil, planted carefully, protected the plants, and waited patiently for the harvest. His sorrow came because the vineyard had received so much but produced so little.

The readings today ask us to look at our own lives as God's vineyard. God has planted us in good soil. He has surrounded us with people who love us. He has given us gifts and opportunities. He has spoken to us through His Word. He has sent us His Son. And now He waits for the harvest.

Perhaps the question we should carry home today is not, “What more can God give me?” but, “What fruit is my life giving back to God?” May our lives not produce bitterness, selfishness, or indifference. May they produce love, peace, compassion, justice, forgiveness, and service. And when the Lord comes looking for the harvest, may He find that the vineyard He lovingly planted in us has produced abundant and beautiful fruit.

Happy Sunday 

Twenty Sixth Sunday of the Year (Year A)

 Twenty Sixth Sunday of the Year 

September 27, 2026

Ezekiel 18:25-28   Philippians 2:1-11   Matthew 21:28-32

(Image courtesy: AI)

A man applied for a job as a handyman. The prospective employer asked, “Can you do carpentry?” The man answered in the negative. “How about bricklaying?” Again, the man answered, “No.” The employer asked, “Well, what about electrical work?” The man said, “No. I don’t know anything about that either.” Finally, the employer said, “Well, tell me then what is handy about you.” The man replied, “I live just around the corner. I can be available at any time of the day or night.”

The answer was amusing, but it contains a profound lesson. The man did not have many skills, but he had something valuable: availability. Neal Maxwell expressed this beautifully: “God does not begin by asking us about our ability, but only about our availability, and if we then prove our dependability, he will increase our capability.”

This thought takes us directly into today's Gospel. Jesus tells us about two sons. One says “no” to his father but later changes his mind and goes to work. The other says “yes” immediately but never goes. Jesus asks, “Which of the two did the will of his father?” The answer is obvious: the first. The message is simple but challenging. God is not looking merely for people who say the right things. He is looking for people who are willing to respond with their lives.

The first reading from Ezekiel speaks about conversion. God challenges the people who complain that His ways are unfair. Ezekiel makes it clear that God looks at the direction of a person's life. If a person turns away from wrongdoing and begins to live rightly, that person will live. This is a powerful message of hope. Our past does not have to determine our future. A person may have made mistakes, wasted opportunities, hurt others, or wandered far from God. But conversion is always possible. God does not close the door on anyone who sincerely turns back.

At the same time, Ezekiel reminds us that a good beginning is not enough. We must remain faithful. A person cannot simply depend on past goodness while refusing to live rightly in the present. This is precisely what Jesus illustrates through the two sons. The first son says, “I will not.” Perhaps he is rebellious, impatient, or unwilling. Yet something happens within him. He changes his mind and goes to work. The second son says, “Yes, sir.” His words sound respectful and obedient. But he does nothing. Jesus deliberately contrasts words and actions.

We can say beautiful prayers and still fail to love. We can speak about service and never serve. We can say that we forgive while continuing to hold resentment. We can say that we love God while ignoring the needs of people around us. God is not impressed merely by our “yes.” He asks what our “yes” produces in our lives.

The second reading from Philippians gives us the perfect example in Jesus Himself. St Paul presents Christ as the model of Christian life. Though He was in the form of God, He emptied Himself, took the form of a servant, humbled Himself, and became obedient even to death on a cross. This is the heart of Christian discipleship. Jesus did not simply speak about love. He lived it. He did not merely preach humility. He humbled Himself. He did not merely tell us to serve. He became a servant.

Paul therefore invites Christians to have the same mind that was in Christ Jesus. This is especially important because we often think of greatness in terms of status, achievement, authority, or recognition. The Gospel presents a completely different vision. True greatness is found in humility and service. Jesus shows us that obedience to God is not about saying impressive words. It is about allowing God's will to shape our choices.

The Gospel also gives us an important message about second chances. The first son initially says “no,” but he eventually changes. How many times have we said “no” to God? “No” to forgiveness. “No” to reconciliation. “No” to prayer. “No” to service. “No” to change. Perhaps we have delayed responding to God for years. Yet today's Gospel tells us that a delayed “yes” is still possible. God does not ask us to have a perfect past. He asks us to make a faithful response today.

There are three important life messages for us today.

First, availability is more important than perfection. God can work through people who are willing. We may not have every talent, but if we make ourselves available, God can develop our abilities and use them for His purposes.

Second, let your actions speak louder than your words. Christian faith is not simply about what we say. Our forgiveness, kindness, service, honesty, compassion, and generosity must make our faith visible.

Third, never be afraid to change. If you have said “no” to God in some area of your life, it is not too late to change your answer. Conversion begins when we turn around and take the next faithful step.

Let us return to the handyman who had almost no practical skills. When the employer asked what was “handy” about him, he replied, “I live just around the corner. I can be available.” Perhaps that is exactly what God is asking from us today. God may not begin by asking, “Are you talented enough?” He may not ask, “Are you perfect?” He may simply ask, “Are you available?” Are you available to forgive? Are you available to serve? Are you available to listen? Are you available to help someone who is struggling? Are you available to change something in your own life?

The first son in the Gospel eventually became available to his father's will. The second had the right words but lacked the action. Jesus Himself shows us what complete availability looks like: He humbled Himself and became obedient. May we not merely say “yes” to God with our lips. May our lives become our “yes.” And when God calls, may we be able to say, “Lord, I may not have everything. I may not be perfect. But I am available. Send me. Use me. I am ready to do your will.”

Happy Sunday