October 8, 2023

Like the last few Sundays, the readings today speak of a vineyard. It is
an excellent time of year to contemplate a vineyard, vines heavy with
grapes waiting to be harvested. But when Jesus speaks in parables,
each element stands for something else. The vineyard we are invited to
contemplate today is not just a large field planted with vines, but our
very home in the Lord. The fruit it produces is not just grapes or wine,
but the kingdom of God made manifest in our world.

Isaiah begins the parable-telling today, establishing the vineyard as the
setting we will revisit throughout the readings. From the first reading
through the psalm and on to the Gospel, we are afforded the chance
to consider the wonderful vineyard that God created for us and what
has befallen it over the course of centuries. May God’s word inspire us
to bear good fruit in the vineyard that is our world.

What specific thing can I do this week to produce fruit for the kingdom of God?