{"id":5751,"date":"2011-09-27T11:40:04","date_gmt":"2011-09-27T18:40:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/?p=5751"},"modified":"2015-03-19T14:53:51","modified_gmt":"2015-03-19T21:53:51","slug":"sunday-lectionary-grapes-of-wrath","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/restlesspilgrim.net\/blog\/2011\/09\/27\/sunday-lectionary-grapes-of-wrath\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunday Lectionary: Grapes of wrath"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sorry it’s a bit late this week – I had two big<\/a> posts<\/a>\u00a0that I wanted to write at the weekend and I kinda ran out of time… <\/span><\/em>:-\/<\/span><\/p>\n

Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time: October 2nd, 2011<\/h2>\n

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Last week we heard Jesus’ parable of the two sons and the vineyard. The Readings this week also focus around the image of the vineyard…<\/p>\n

The bold refrain of the psalm this week is “The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel”<\/span><\/em>. In our First Reading this image of the vineyard is used to describe how God gave Israel every possible blessing, yet all these graces were scorned. For this, Israel will have to pay the price. Yet, in our Gospel we hear how, through the rejection of Christ, the Gentiles come to have a share in God’s Kingdom.<\/p>\n

For this week’s Readings I would suggest reading the Psalm first since it clearly establishes the metaphor of the vineyard and explains Israel’s exodus in those terms. I would then move on to the First Reading to hear how this metaphor is also used to describe God’s coming judgement. Next, I would read the Gospel as it shows how Jesus uses this familiar image to predicts His own death. I would optionally conclude with the Second Reading.<\/em><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Reading I: Isaiah 5:1-7<\/h3>\n

In this First Reading, Isaiah tells us joyfully about the Lord,\u00a0his “friend”<\/span><\/em> who has bestowed on Israel every blessing imaginable. He uses the image of a vineyard to describe the great care the Lord has lavished on His people. However, the vineyard of Israel has failed to produce fruit…<\/p>\n

Let me now sing of my friend,<\/span>\u00a0my friend’s song concerning his vineyard.<\/span>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

My friend had a vineyard\u00a0<\/span>on a fertile hillside;\u00a0<\/span>he spaded it, cleared it of stones,\u00a0<\/span>and planted the choicest vines;\u00a0<\/span>within it he built a watchtower,\u00a0<\/span>and hewed out a wine press.\u00a0<\/span>Then he looked for the crop of grapes,\u00a0<\/span>but what it yielded was wild grapes.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah,\u00a0<\/span>judge between me and my vineyard:\u00a0<\/span>What more was there to do for my vineyard\u00a0<\/span><\/em>that I had not done?<\/span>\u00a0Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes,<\/span>\u00a0did it bring forth wild grapes?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Now, I will let you know<\/span>\u00a0what I mean to do with my vineyard:<\/span>\u00a0take away its hedge, give it to grazing,<\/span>\u00a0break through its wall, let it be trampled!<\/span>\u00a0Yes, I will make it a ruin:<\/span>\u00a0it shall not be pruned or hoed,<\/span>\u00a0but overgrown with thorns and briers;<\/span>\u00a0I will command the clouds<\/span><\/em>
\n not to send rain upon it.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel,<\/span>\u00a0and the people of Judah are his cherished plant;<\/span>\u00a0he looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed!<\/span>\u00a0for justice, but hark, the outcry!\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Questions:<\/p>\n