Words from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 5:1-7.
Let me sing for my beloved the song I sang for her vineyard: On a fertile hill, my beloved had a vineyard.
He tilled the soil and removed the stones, planted select vines, and built a watchtower in the middle. He dug a pit to press the grapes and waited for his vineyard to bear fruit. But the vineyard produced wild grapes.
My beloved says: "O inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, please be judges between me and my family!"
What haven't I done for my vineyard? Why did it produce wild grapes when I was expecting it to bear grapes?
Now I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will tear down its fence and let them devour it; I will demolish its wall and let them trample it.
"I will turn it into a wasteland; it will not be pruned or tilled; thorny bushes will grow all around it. I will command the clouds not to rain on it."
The garden of the Lord Almighty is the people of Israel, but the seed of Judah is what pleases Him. The Lord waited for justice, but He saw violence; He waited for righteousness, but He heard cries of distress.
Psalm 80(79),9.12.13-14.15-16.19-20.
The vineyard of the Lord of the universe is the house of Israel.
You prepared the soil for him,
It took root and spread throughout the country.
Why did you tear down the vineyard walls?
Everyone passing by is picking grapes,
Wild boars are tearing it apart.
Wild animals feed on it.
Oh Almighty God, please return to us!
Look down from the heavens and see, take an interest in this vine.
O Almighty God, turn to us!
Look down from the highest point of the heavens and see,
Cherish this vine!
Protect what your right hand has sewn,
And the son you chose for yourself!
The vine was cut down and burned.
Oh Lord, Almighty God,
Bring us back to our former selves.
Illuminate us with the light of your face, and let us be saved!
Quotations from St. Paul's Letter to the Philippians 4.6-9.
My brothers and sisters, do not be anxious about anything; instead, in all things, pray and beg God with thanksgiving to make your requests known.
Then the peace of God, which transcends all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, consider all that is true, honorable, righteous, pure, lovely, and admirable—all that is virtuous and praiseworthy.
Whatever you have learned from me, accepted, heard, or seen in me, do it, and God, who gives peace, will be with you.
Words from the Gospel of Jesus Christ, written by Saint Matthew: 21:33-43.
One day Jesus said to the chief priests and Pharisees, "Listen to another parable: A man who owned land planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a pit for pressing the grapes, and built a watchtower. Then he leased the vineyard to vineyard owners and went away on a journey.
As the harvest approached, he sent his slaves to the vineyard owners to collect his share of the produce.
The villagers captured the man's slaves, beat one, killed another, and stoned the third.
This time, the vineyard owner sent even more slaves than the first time. The vineyard workers did the same thing to them.
Finally, the vineyard owner sent him to the vineyard workers, saying, "They will respect my son."
But when the vineyard owners saw the man's son, they said to each other, "This is the heir; let's kill him and seize his inheritance."
So they caught him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
In this situation, what will the vineyard owner do to the vineyard owners when he arrives?"
They answered Jesus, "He will destroy these wretched men in a terrible way, and he will rent the vineyard to other vineyard owners who will give him its produce in due time."
Jesus asked them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures, 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is the work of the Lord, marvelous in our eyes!'"
Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation that will produce its fruits."