Reflection for Sunday 4th October, 2026

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Vineyard of the Lord

In today’s Gospel (Matt 21:33-43), Jesus was well aware that the Jewish leaders were scheming and plotting against him. So, he confronted them with a parable about a vineyard. As the owner was away, the evil tenants availed of the opportunity to kill not only the servants of the owner but his son also. Jesus let these Jewish leaders know that he was aware of their intentions.

God had sent prophets and inspirational leaders, but people rejected them whenever their preaching became a threat to their politics or way of living. Finally, God sent his Beloved Son, Jesus Christ. He was a man of noble ideals, compassionate to all who were suffering, a bringer of healing and peace. How on earth was this good man rejected?

“There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus.”

We can invent our own parable to offer a simple understanding of what happened. Our eyes are made for light, but if the eye is sore, we cannot stand the light. Our tummies are made for food but when the tummy is sick, we cannot stand even the smell of food! The soul is made for God, but the soul that is sick is threatened by the goodness of God. “Those who do evil hate the light and avoid it for fear their actions should be exposed” (John 3:20).

Jesus was a serious threat to their abuse of religion so they decided to kill him.
“It was the stone rejected by the builders that became the keystone.
This was God’s doing and it is wonderful to see.”

The keystone of life

The role of Christ as the keystone of life is beautifully described by Saint Paul in today’s Second Reading. Ponder deeply on these words of trust and peace.
“There is no need to worry; but if there is anything you need, pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving, and that peace of God, which is so much greater than we can understand, will guard your hearts and your thoughts, in Christ Jesus. Finally, fill your minds with everything that is true, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise. Keep doing all the things that you learned from me and have been taught by me and have heard or seen that I do. Then the God of peace will be with you” (Phil 4:6-9).

God-shaped emptiness

For many people today there is an emptiness. They have tried change of job, travelled far and wide etc. but the emptiness remains. There is an old saying that there is a God-shaped emptiness in the human soul. It’s like trying every piece of a jigsaw but nothing fills the gap. Many people today are returning to religion. As St. Augustine wrote: “You have made us for yourself, and we will know no rest until we rest in thee.”