LIVE BY GOD’S STANDARDS

Ordinary Time (Sunday): Week 27 Readings I - Is 5: 1-7 II - Phil. 4: 6-9 III - Mt. 21: 33-43 LIVE BY GOD’S STANDARDS The three readings of the day focus on fruitful living. In the first reading taken from Prophet Isaiah, Israel is symbolized as the finest vine planted by God’s own hands that yielded only wild grapes, disappointing God. In the Gospel reading Jesus uses the parable of the wicked tenants to describe his predilection for Israel, the people of God. In the parable, the master sends his servants to get his due from the tenants to whom he had leased out his vineyard but the tenants beat them and drove them off the vineyard. Finally the master sends his own son so that they respond to him. But, they threw him out and killed him. The Kingdom of God is the vineyard and the tenants are the people of God. Jesus came to his own and his own accepted him not. The Gospel passage ends saying that the Kingdom of Heaven will be given to people producing fruits. We are the New Israel, the Children of God, created in the likeness and image of God the Father Himself, redeemed by the precious blood of Jesus, His Son and our Lord and sanctified by the Holy Spirit. We will be able to yield good fruits if we fix our mind on what St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians says in the Second reading, “whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Therefore lift your heart unto the Lord, Listen to God’s voice and live a credible life to inherit eternal happiness.