Lord, everything is in your power, and no one can resist your will. You made all things: heaven, earth and all that they contain; You are the God of the universe!

 

Lord, everything is in your power, and no one can resist your will. You made all things: heaven, earth and all that they contain; You are the God of the universe! (Est 1.9ss)

The Church, the Lord's beloved vineyard, welcomes everyone with open arms. As a community gathered in prayer to give thanks to God and welcome his Word, we are invited to take care of this vineyard, so that it produces fruits of peace and justice. Let us celebrate in communion with the missionary Church, which this month holds the first conclusive session of its 16th General Assembly, with the theme: “For a synodal Church: communion, participation and mission”.

First Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7

Reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah – 1I will sing to my beloved the song of the vineyard of a friend of mine: a friend of mine had a vineyard on a fertile hillside. 2He surrounded it, cleared it of stones, planted choice vines, built a tower in the middle and built a wine press; he expected it to produce good grapes, but it produced wild grapes. 3Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and citizens of Judah, judge my situation and that of my vineyard. 4What more could I have done for my vineyard that I didn't do? I was counting on real grapes, but why did it produce wild grapes? 5For now I will show you what I will do with my vineyard: I will tear down the fence, and it will be devastated; I will tear down the wall, and she will be trampled underfoot. 6I will leave it uncultivated and wild: it will not be pruned or tilled, thorns and briers will take over it; I will not let the clouds pour rain on her. 7For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his beloved plantation; I expected from them fruits of justice – and behold injustice; I expected works of goodness – and behold iniquity. - Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: 79(80)

The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

1. You uprooted this vine from Egypt / and drove out the nations to plant it; / its shoots spread to the sea, / its shoots spread to the river. – R.

2. Why did you destroy its fence, / so that all passers-by harvest it, / the wild boar of the virgin forest devastates it / and the wild animals graze on it? – R.

3. Turn to us, God of the universe! † Look from the high heavens and observe. / Visit your vineyard and protect it! / It was your right hand that planted it; / protect her, and the sprout that you established! – R.

4. And we will never leave you again, Lord God! / Give us life, and we will praise your name! / Convert us, O Lord God of the universe, † and illuminate your face upon us! / If you return to us, we will be saved! – R.

Second Reading: Philippians 4:6-9

Reading of Saint Paul's letter to the Philippians – Brothers, 6Do not worry about anything, but present your needs to God, in prayers and supplications, accompanied by thanksgiving. 7And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and thoughts in Christ Jesus. 8Furthermore, brothers, concern yourselves with everything that is true, respectable, just, pure, lovely, honorable, everything that is virtue or in any way worthy of praise. 9Practice what you learned and received from me or what you saw and heard from me. Thus the God of peace will be with you. - Word of the Lord.

Gospel: Matthew 21,33-43

Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah.

I chose you from the middle of the world, / so that you might bear fruit that lasts. / I chose you from the middle of the world. / Amen! Hallelujah Hallelujah! (John 15:16) – R.

Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Matthew – At that time, Jesus said to the high priests and the elders of the people: 33 “Listen to this other parable: a certain owner planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, and made a press in it to crush the grapes. and built a guard tower. Afterwards, he leased it to winegrowers and traveled abroad. 34When harvest time arrived, the owner sent his employees to the vineyards to receive their fruit. 35But the vineyard workers seized the servants, beat one, killed another, and stoned the third. 36The owner sent other servants again, in greater numbers than the first. But they treated them the same. 37Finally, the owner sent his son to them, thinking, 'They will respect my son.' 38But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and take possession of his inheritance!’ 39Then they grabbed the son, threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40Well, when the owner of the vineyard returns, what will he do with these vinedressers?” 41The high priests and the elders of the people replied, “He will certainly have these wicked people killed violently and will lease the vineyard to other growers, who will give him the fruit at the right time.” 42Then Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; This was done by the Lord and it is wonderful in our eyes’? 43Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people.