Gospel
Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:
“Hear another parable.
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard,
put a hedge around it,
dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.
Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.
When vintage time drew near,
he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.
But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat,
another they killed, and a third they stoned.
Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones,
but they treated them in the same way.
Finally, he sent his son to them,
thinking, ‘They will respect my son.’
But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another,
‘This is the heir.
Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.’
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?”
They answered him,
“He will put those wretched men to a wretched death
and lease his vineyard to other tenants
who will give him the produce at the proper times.”
Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Therefore, I say to you,
the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you
and given to a people that will produce its fruit.”
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables,
they knew that he was speaking about them.
And although they were attempting to arrest him,
they feared the crowds, for they regarded him as a prophet.
The Lord seeks those who will do his will. Not just with their lips but with their hearts. With their life and actions. They will use their hands to reach out to others. They will use their feet to reach those in darkness.
The Lord seeks those who will be fruitful with the blessings he gave us. All people receive blessings in this life from God but only a few do his will. That is why Jesus speaks of a narrow gate versus a broad highway. Only a narrow gate is needed, there is no line forming to get through. But the broad highways of those who do not do his will in truth and the way is overflowing with souls who have not chosen the foundation stone of Jesu Christ to build their life upon.
Today we need to remember that everything, all our work and living should be built upon Jesus. Our life lived for him. Our getting up to work and our laying down to rest done with him in mind and his name always on our lips and our mind.
Do not think of this focus as being just what the holy ones do. Maybe the priests and religious. No you and I are called to be holy and saints and have the body and blood of Jesus Christ in our body and on our lips always. For we live for Jesus who was crucified for us and we like the thief on the cross cry out, remember me, Lord!
Deacon Tony Pynes 
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