In the 1st reading, Isaiah says that the Lord has chosen and made Israel His vineyard. The Lord has chosen property on a fertile hillside and converted it into a vineyard. But the Lord was disappointed because the vineyard produced wild grapes and did not bear the desired fruits.

During the last days of the Lord in Jerusalem, Matthews narrated three (3) parables about the guilt of Israel: (1) Parable of the Two Sons (Mt. 21:2832), (2) Parable of the Tenant (Mt. 21: 3345), (3) Parable of the Wedding Banquet (Mt. 22:114). The parable today was about the tenants of the vineyard who refused to hand over the fruits. Thus, the landowner turned it over to another tenant. In the same way, the Jewish leadership turned over to the Apostles and the Synagogue to the Church.

In the 1st reading, Israel knew that they have a corporate responsibility, as the chosen people, to set a good example to other nations. But with their national institution “Temple” destroyed, their corporate responsibility was in question, a renewed emphasis on “individual responsibility” came into focus. Ezekiel stressed “individual responsibility,” children are not punished for the sins of their parents, but their own. Anyone is free to have a change of heart, from his wickedness to righteousness. We are judged by our new life and not by our sins of the past.

Phil. 2:111 was an exhortation to harmony, in two ways. Negatively, by giving up rivalry and conceit. Positively, through humility, acknowledging that most of the time others are superior to us, in their charity, putting the other first than oneself.

The last chapter of the book of the prophet Isaiah outlines all the spiritual blessings brought about by the new covenant. 1.) All are invited to the new covenant. In the image of abundance of food and drink, freely offered to the hungry and the thirsty. 2.) To attain this, there is a need for Israel to mend their ways, a need for conversion. 3.) The last two verses announced the new exodus, “In joy you shall depart.”

The 2nd reading from Phil. 1:2027 has an independent theme, Paul says, to live is to be with Christ. Because we have all been incorporated to His death and resurrection through our baptism. By virtue of his Apostolic mission, to follow Christ is attaining the enjoyment of the mystical communion between Christ and us. Jesus narrated the parable in the Gospel today: 1.) To answer His opponents who are criticizing Him for favoring the outcast than the respected members of society. 2.) Because there exists an oral tradition that says: “The last shall be first and the first shall be last.” Jesus noticed that the gentiles are being drawn to the church, while the people of Israel are rejecting His message. 3.) Taking off from the previous chapter, 19:30 “Many who are first shall come last, and the last shall come first.” In a reverse order, 20:16 Those who left everything for the sake of the Kingdom can still be last if they persist of looking for a reward and demand it.

Sirach or Ecclesiasticus is one of the 7 books recognized by Catholics as inspired and canonical, called Deuterocanonical book, Protestants call it Apocryphal. The book contains the wisdom and experience of the people. The book is divided into three parts. The 1st Part talks about the concept and the use of wisdom. The 2nd Part includes sayings on wisdom as regard its ethical influence on human life, and the higher level of relationship with God. The last or 3rd part is about the praise of the Father of Old from Adam… Sirach 27 contains the admonition about anger, vengeance and forgiveness, which toe the line of the 2nd part of the book, concerning the ethical standards set in the Old Testament.

The independent theme of the second reading is a continuation of the Moral part of Rom. 1214. We are all one, living our divine life with the Lord Jesus Christ. By virtue of our baptism, we are called to live His life, the Paschal Mystery, His life, death, and resurrection. We profess that Jesus is our Lord and Savior, and we live to serve the mission He entrusted to us.