2026 Cycle A - 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Readings

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Isa 5:1-7; Ps 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20; Phil 4:6-9; cf. John 15:16; Matt 21:33-43 

Homily Theme

The Vineyard

In this week's readings, both Isaiah and Jesus speak a lot about vineyards but most urban     dwellers in today’s world won't necessarily relate to vineyards, but for the people of biblical times, it was as meaningful to them, as the present financial crisis is to us. They were rightly concerned about their future livelihood and security for their families, just as we are for ours, so Isaiah and Jesus preached to them in terms of harvesting grapes. 

 In the first reading, Isaiah speaks prophetically of all that God has done for His chosen people, the Jews. He speaks in terms of a vineyard. He came looking for grapes and found none. He found sour grapes instead. It was overgrown with thorns and briars. It was neither fruitful nor pleasing to God.

 This prophetic example can be also applied to the Church in our modern World. In France, the oldest daughter of the Church, a very small percentage of Catholics practice their faith. The largest practicing faith now in France is Moslem. This is a country that had produced many great Saints and where Mary appeared at Lourdes. Jesus comes now looking for grapes and finds none. Catholics have become the sour grapes of Europe, even in Italy where three out of five no longer attend Sunday Mass. Today, millions of Catholics are not at Mass to be fed. Christ’s vineyard is barren and overrun with the briars of disbelief and indifference: even hostility. He is not pleased with finding so few healthy grapes in His vineyard the Church

 Jesus planted a vineyard when He gave the keys of the kingdom to Peter.  We know that the gates of Hell will not prevail against it, but will we be among those who have born fruitful grapes when the Lord comes to inspect His vineyard?  Listen carefully to the Gospel this week as well as to the other readings. There will be a judgment so what will Jesus find when He comes to inspect His Church? Let us pray for a renewed Church. There are many beautiful Cathedrals and built for all to see.  Let us start filling them again and will see a new renewed Church.

Now concentrate on the second reading, where Paul gives us a more positive message. He tells us to have no anxiety at all, and he lists several beautiful things for us to concentrate on in prayer. ‘Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, Think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and seen from me’. Then we shall have no fear of the Judgment.  Renew your faith in the Church if it is weak and return to the sacraments if you are lapsed. Then when Jesus checks His vineyard you will be one of the saved. Let us all  pray for a renewed Church