Sermon – He Will Lease the Vineyard to Other Tenants (Matthew 21:33-43) – October 4, 2026

“Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a people who bear fruit . ”

Who are these new people? They are the Church of Christ. The Church of Jesus Christ has four essential characteristics : one, holy, universal, and powerful and firm (based on the apostles).

1. The Church is ONE.

Firstly, it is because of the unity of faith; they all believe in the same thing. Ephesians 4:5: “One God, one faith, one baptism.” Secondly, it is because of the unity of hope : attaining eternal life. Ephesians 4:4: “One body and one soul, just as the hope to which you are called is one.” Thirdly, it is because of the unity of love : Everyone (Christians) is united in the love of God and in mutual love for one another.

2. The Church is Holy

3 Corinthians 3:17: “Holy is the temple of God, and you are that temple.” Therefore, it is said: “I believe in the Holy Church.” The believers of this congregation are blessed by three truths :

Firstly, they are sanctified (cleansed) by the Blood of Christ ; Revelation 1:5: “He loved us and cleansed us of our sins with his blood.”

Secondly, they are consecrated through spiritual anointing: this anointing is the grace of the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 1:21: “It is God who anoints us”; and 1 Corinthians 6:11: “You are consecrated in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Thirdly, through the Trinity dwelling within us : for God dwells in our spirit, and wherever God dwells, it is holy.

3. The church is CATHOLIC .

That is, it is universal : in terms of location , it exists throughout the world. Mark 16:15: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creatures.” It is also universal in terms of the condition of people , because no one is rejected. “ There is no longer any distinction between Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28. It is also universal in terms of time ; it will last from Abel to the end of the ages. Matthew 28:20: “Know that I am with you every day to the end of the age.” Only after the end of the ages will it remain in heaven.

4. The Church is STRONG and FIRM (Apostolic)

A house's solidity is primarily determined by its good foundations. The Church's primary foundation is Christ . Secondary foundations, of course...

It is the Apostles and their teachings . Therefore, Revelation 21 says the city has twelve foundations, and on these foundations are written the names of the twelve Apostles. This is why the Church is said to be Apostolic .

Secondly, the strength of a house is judged by its ability to withstand being shaken without collapsing. A church can never be destroyed .

Not because of persecutions, the more persecution there is, the more Christians increase; nor because of errors or heresies, the more the truth shines; nor because of the temptations of the devil, for the Church is a tower of refuge for all who struggle against the devil. Matthew 16:18: “The gates of hell will not prevail against it.”

Therefore, after such a blessing, we must avoid defiling our souls, which are God’s temple, with sin. The apostle says in 1 Corinthians 3:17: “If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him.”

What should we do to avoid sin? I offer three practical tips:

1. Before being tempted:

Stay awake , remember that we are at war. The Lord said, “Stay awake and pray so that you will not be tempted.” We must strengthen our weaknesses, recognize them, and fight them. We must fight laziness.

2. At the moment of temptation:

Pray and resist ; you must resist not only passively (by not accepting it) but also actively , that is, you must act in the opposite direction of temptation (agere contro) and, depending on the nature of the temptation, especially those that contradict the sixth and ninth commandments, you must flee from it. Something that is very helpful is to voice the temptation we are experiencing during confession or spiritual guidance; for “temptation that is revealed is half-conquered.”

3. After the temptation:

If we have overcome temptation, let us remember that we did so with God’s help and give thanks to Him. If we have fallen, let us not lose courage, let us ask God for forgiveness, and if I have committed mortal sin, let me go to confession as soon as possible.

Let us ask the Blessed Mary for the grace to remain always in the Church of Christ; that Church is One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic.