33 “Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard…. Then he rented the vineyard to some farmers and moved to another place. When the harvest time approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. Matthew 21 : 33 - 34
Thought for the week :
Jesus tells several parables referring to vineyards. It is an image of fruitfulness. It is about the Lord’s longing for His people to thrive, to prosper, to live content and fulfilled lives. Yet the key thing is that this happens through a relationship with the Lord. Through humility, obedience to the Lord’s commands, through trust in the Lord’s faithfulness, and in His love.
Jesus does not hold back from the hard realities. Of what happens when the Father’s grace is turned away. Where the invitation to be blessed and prosper is ignored, or worse brutally rejected. This is the reality of sin, the turning away from the Lord’s grace.
Yet our Gospel reading this week is full of hope. In the parable Jesus tells the owner’s servants are harshly treated, and his son is even killed. Yet Jesus is pointing to Himself, and His giving of Himself on the Cross so that there can be forgiveness and healing, and a new beginning.
This is the Lord’s love, who longs for a relationship with each of us. So we can know the joy of a new beginning. Of the Lord’s love in our lives. So we can live blessed and even fruitful lives. This is the Lord’s longing for each of us. For us all. Rev Paul
Readings this week : Isaiah 5 : 1 - 7; Philippians 3 : 4b - 14; Matthew 21 : 33 - 46
Prayers for this week
Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us your gift of faith that, forsaking what lies behind and reaching out to that which is before, we may run the way of your commandments and win the crown of everlasting joy;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
God, our judge and saviour, teach us to be open to your truth and to trust in your love,
that we may live each day with confidence in the salvation which is given through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
People to pray for :
For peace in the Middle East
For families who have been bereaved
For our schools