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Gospel Reading for October 04, 2026 – Matthew 21: 33-43
CHANCE TO REALIGN
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people: “Hear another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey. When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce. But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned. Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way. Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’ They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?” They answered him, “He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.” Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”
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“He will put those wretched men to a wretched death and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times.”
It was so easy for the chief priests and elders to answer what had to be done to the wicked tenants because they did not think of themselves as the tenants.
However, what Jesus said next made them realize that they were the tenants in Jesus’ parable. They wanted to arrest him, but they were afraid of the people who looked up to him as a prophet.
This proves that the Word of God is indeed as Hebrews 4:12 states: “The Word of God is living, active, and sharper than any double-edged sword, able to penetrate deep within us and judge our thoughts and motives.”
It is not meant to make us feel bad about ourselves, but to give us the CHANCE TO REALIGN with the person made in God’s image and likeness. It is the only way Christians can live a truly joyful, peaceful, and fruitful life in this world, in the midst of challenges and difficulties.
Speak, Lord, we are listening!
