Scripture Reflections for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

Year A, Lectionary 139


Are we producing God's fruit or are we trying to seize God's gifts for ourselves? God's plan is to grace us with divinity for our benefit but we may be trying to control God instead for our own benefit. God warns us to appreciate what God is offering and giving us, to use it for good and God's purpose or we may end up losing them.

Hate feeling lost on Sundays at church? Searching for a better explanation of the Bible than what you hear from your pastor's sermon? Check out the following collection of audio, video, and text commentaries from various Christian experts for a better understanding of today's scripture that deal with: AnxietyBlameChangeCommunityGraceHarvestJusticeMercyOverseeOwnerOwnershipPassoverPeaceProphetReconciliationRejectReturnSinStewardStoneTenantThoughtVineyard

Psalm 80:9, 12-16, 19-20
Philippians 4:6-9
Catholic Productions

“I think many of us would, would recognize that prayer is important but we tend to forget the second part which is to pray to God not just with supplication...but with the prayer of thanksgiving, in other words gratitude”


Brant Pitre in "Freedom from Anxiety" (September 30, 2020)

“We should bear in mind that unnecessary anxiety will rob us of inner peace”


Fr. Tony Ricard (October 08, 2023)
Matthew 21:33-43
Holy Name of Jesus Church & Loyola Ministry

“The vineyard belongs to the Lord but I can't give it back up again. I'm clinging so tightly to it because I love it so much. This happens to you and me.”


Fr. Mark E. Thibodeaux, SJ (October 04, 2020)

“We have all received life from God as a special gift on trust and it is our responsibility to bear good fruits with this life”


Fr. Emmanuel Ochigbo (October 02, 2023)
St. Martin de Porres Catholic Church, Philadelphia

“What does God want to be known as? He doesn't want to show himself as a dictator, as a king that demands justice. He doesn't scream and yell and shout at us with condemnation. He reveals himself as king of mercy.”


Fr. Addisalem Mekonnen in "Is justice the opposite of mercy?" (October 05, 2020)
Overall Readings
Catholic Women Preach

“Time and time again God will use the excluded of the world, those not seen or treated as if they don't matter to create something new, something that will change the course of history”


Carmen Ramos (October 08, 2023)
Saint Katharine Drexel Parish - Boston, MA

“When we treat the world as if it is ours by possession and not by participation we wind up doing more harm than good”


Fr. Oscar Pratt (October 04, 2020)
Catholic Productions

“What kind of crazy father would send his own son to a group of wicked tenants such as this? And the answer is well this isn't an ordinary father and it's not an ordinary son. It's an allegory here for God the Father sending Jesus his son”


Brant Pitre in "The Parable of the Wicked Tenants" (September 28, 2020)

“The one factor that counted against the chief priests and elders of the people was their refusal to change. They were so self-confident, so self-assured in their religious outlook that they failed to hear the invitation that God extended to them”


Fr. Geoffrey Plant in "A landowner who planted a vineyard" (October 01, 2023)
St. Teresa of Avila - DC

“That's the harvest plan of the Lord, it's that simple. That we be friends, develop friendship with one another and then bring those friends to Christ.”


Monsignor Raymond East (October 04, 2020)
Catholic Women Preach

“Isn't that what we're longing for today? A new awareness of our own goodness? The peace of God in our inner hearts?”


Ramona Miller, OSF (September 17, 2020)