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+JMJ+SUNDAY BIBLICAL MASS READINGS AND QUESTIONSfor Self-Reflection, Couples or Family Discussion27th Sunday of Ordinary Time – Sunday, October 4th, 2026The First Reading - Isaiah 5:1-7Let me now sing of my friend, my friend's song concerning his vineyard. My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside; he spaded it, cleared it of stones, and planted the choicest vines; within it he built a watchtower, and hewed out a wine press. Then he looked for the crop of grapes, but what it yielded was wild grapes. Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard: What more was there to do for my vineyard that I had not done? Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes? Now, I will let you know what I mean to do with my vineyard: take away its hedge, give it to grazing, break through its wall, let it be trampled! Yes, I will make it a ruin: it shall not be pruned or hoed, but overgrown with thorns and briers; I will command the clouds not to send rain upon it. The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his cherished plant; he looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed! for justice, but hark, the outcry!Reflection The First Reading gives us the key prophetic parable that identifies the “vineyard” as God’s people Israel. Although we have not read it in the liturgy until this Sunday, this passage of Isaiah has been in the background through Jesus’ other vineyard parables in the last several weeks. The themes of this song from Isaiah have important connections with the Song of Songs. The word translated “friend” in our Mass version is literally “my beloved,” in Hebrew dowdi or didi, which is the preferred term the bride uses for the royal bridegroom in the Song of Songs. The Song of Songs is also full of vineyard imagery; in fact, the vineyard/garden is often identified with the bride herself: she is a vineyard/garden. “A garden enclosed is my sister, my bride; a garden enclosed, a fountain sealed!” (Song 4:12). “Let my beloved come to his garden and eat its choicest fruit” (Song 4:16). Thus, the poem in Isaiah 5:1-7, understood in light of broader Scriptural themes, is a love story. The vineyard is a metaphor for the spouse of the Lord, his beloved people. Ultimately it points forward to the Bride of Christ.Adults - How is Scripture a love story?Teens - How do you see God’s love for you?Kids - How can you show your love for God? Responsorial- Psalm 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20 R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.A vine from Egypt you transplanted;you drove away the nations and planted it.It put forth its foliage to the Sea,its shoots as far as the River.R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.Why have you broken down its walls,so that every passer-by plucks its fruit,The boar from the forest lays it waste,and the beasts of the field feed upon it?R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.Once again, O LORD of hosts,look down from heaven, and see;take care of this vine,and protect what your right hand has plantedthe son of man whom you yourself made strong.R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.Then we will no more withdraw from you;give us new life, and we will call upon your name.O LORD, God of hosts, restore us;if your face shine upon us, then we shall be saved.R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel. Reflection Here, Israel is again likened to a vine that God transplanted from Egypt to Canaan. God has then punished vineyard-Israel, but the Psalm implores him to come to their aid. Verses 15-16 are key: “Look down from heaven, and see; take care of this vine … and the son of man whom you made strong for yourself.” This “son of man” is none other that the royal Son of David who sat on the throne of Israel at the time the psalm was composed. Later in the psalm (verse 18) he is referred to as “the man on your right”: “May your hand be with the man on your right” (v. 18). This is an apt expression, since the Temple, the throne of God, lay to the north of the royal palace, the throne of David, so that the Son of David literally sat “at the right” (i.e. to the south) of God. (Directions were expressed facing east: “left” was north, “right” was south.) Psalm 80 is a prayer for God to protect vineyard-Israel, but also the royal Son of David. In fact, the fate of Israel and of the royal son are united and inextricable. What do you need God’s help with right now?The Second Reading- Philippians 4:6-9Brothers and sisters: Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then the God of peace will be with you.Reflection - St. Paul exhorts us here to ponder “whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, etc.” It is a list similar to the Fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23. Using the vineyard analogy given to us in the other readings, we can say that St. Paul wishes us to envision the Fruit of the Spirit, so that we may also bear these Fruit. What we contemplate, we emulate. That is why Our Lord teaches in the Sermon on the Mount: “The eye is the lamp of the body. So if your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is not sound, your whole body will be full of darkness!” (Matt 6:22-23). -Work to focus on the good in the world this week, and to limit your exposure to the negative and immoral. The Holy Gospel according to Matthew 21:33-43Jesus 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."Reflection The basic meaning of the parable is clear: the tenants are the chief priests and leaders of the people. The servants sent to the vineyard are the prophets; the son is Jesus himself; the vineyard owner is God the Father. The judgment on the tenants is a prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem which was to happen within a generation (AD 70). The Temple was decorated in its interior with garden imagery, which was intended to evoke the concept of Eden, the original garden-vineyard of God. In fact, a great vine was carved on the gates of the Temple. Some scholars surmise that Jesus was passing the Temple gates, with the great vine image, on the way to Gethsemane in John 15, where he begins his “True Vine” discourse: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower …”By identifying Himself as the True Vine, Jesus is claiming to be the personal embodiment of Israel, the people of God.Adults - In what ways can our behavior reflect that of the tenants?Teens - How can you fight against greed and selfishness in our lives? Kids - What does it mean that we are all one in Jesus?LIVING THE WORD OF GOD THIS WEEK! - In God's plan of love and mercy the tragedy of Calvary turned out to be the great "triumph of failure." That death brought life to the world and opened the gates of God's eternal kingdom for all nations and races. The Gentiles rallied around the standard of Christ. A new vineyard was set up in which all men could work for their Father in heaven and for their own eternal interests. We Christians today are the successors of the first Gentile followers of Christ. We too have been called to work in God's vineyard. Are we working honestly and devotedly? Are we producing the grapes and the wine that our divine Master expects of us? If our answer is "yes, I am living a true Christian life, I am working for God's honor and glory and for my own eternal salvation," then we can say a heartfelt "thank you" to our merciful Father, and ask him to keep us ever on this right path. But if our answer is "no," then let us pay heed to today's lesson. What happened to the chief priests and elders can and will happen to unfaithful Christians if they persevere in their infidelity and disobedience. But we can still put ourselves right with God. Let us do it today — tomorrow may be too late. -Excerpted from The Sunday Readings by Fr. Kevin O'Sullivan, O.F.M.
Busy week in first grade. Nouns, nouns are everywhere, in our room and even outside! Ag in the Classroom visited and we learned about apples. Banana bread was a treat. Thanks to Jill Speth for supplying the bananas & Aleah Newkirk for baking the bread.