My brothers and sisters, today’s readings invite us to reflect on a simple but important question: What fruits is God finding in our lives?

In the first reading, Isaiah presents Israel as God’s vineyard. God has done everything for his people. He planted the vineyard, cared for it, protected it, and expected it to produce good grapes. But instead, it produced wild grapes. The message is clear: God has given his people everything they need, but he also expects a response.

The Gospel presents the same image in another way. The landowner carefully prepares his vineyard and entrusts it to tenants. When harvest time comes, he sends his servants to receive the fruits. But the tenants refuse. They beat some servants, kill others, and finally even kill the son of the owner, thinking that they can take possession of the vineyard for themselves.

Jesus is reminding us that the vineyard ultimately belongs to God. We are not the owners; we are the stewards. Everything we have—our life, our faith, our family, our parish, our abilities, our time, and our resources—is entrusted to us by God. And one day, the Lord will ask us this question: What have you done with what I entrusted to you? Or, what fruits have you produced?

This parable is not simply about the people of Jesus’ time. It is also a warning for us as Christians today. We are now the workers in God’s vineyard. The Lord expects to find fruits in our lives: faith, love, forgiveness, generosity, prayer, service, and concern for others.

St. Paul gives us a practical way to produce these fruits in the second reading: “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.” Then he tells us to put into practice what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and worthy of praise.

As a parish community, then, we can ask ourselves: Are we producing the fruits God desires? Are we supporting one another in faith? Do we make time for prayer and the Eucharist? Do we forgive? Do we generously support the mission of the Church? Do we use our gifts to serve rather than simply to receive?

Let us not be like the tenants who wanted the vineyard for themselves. Let us remember that we are stewards. May the Lord find in us the fruits of faithful discipleship, and may our parish become a vineyard where faith grows, love flourishes, and God is glorified.

Scripture Readings
Is 5:1–7 • Ps 80 • Phil 4:6–9 • Mt 21:33–43