FIRST READING: Isaiah 5: 1 - 7
1
I will sing to my beloved the canticle of my cousin concerning his
vineyard. My beloved had a vineyard on a hill in a fruitful place.
2
And he fenced it in, and picked the stones out of it, and planted it
with the choicest vines, and built a tower in the midst thereof, and
set up a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth
grapes, and it broutht forth wild grapes.
3
And now, O ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and ye men of Juda, judge
between me and my vineyard.
4
What is there that I ought to do more to my vineyard, that I have not
done to it?
5
And now I will shew you what I will do to my vineyard. I will take
away the hedge thereof, and it shall be wasted: I will break down the
wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down.
6
And I will make it desolate: it shall not be pruned, and it shall not
be digged: but briers and thorns shall come up: and I will command
the clouds to rain no rain upon it.
7
For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel: and the
man of Juda, his pleasant plant: and I looked that he should do
judgment, and behold iniquity: and do justice, and behold a cry.
PSALM:
Psalms 80:
9, 12 - 16, 19 - 20
9
Thou hast brought a vineyard out of Egypt: thou hast cast cut the
Gentiles and planted it.
12
It stretched forth its branches unto the sea, and its boughs unto the
river.
13
Why hast thou broken down the hedge thereof, so that all they who
pass by the way do pluck it?
14
The boar out of the wood hath laid it waste: and a singular wild
beast hath devoured it.
15
Turn again, O God of hosts, look down from heaven, and see, and visit
this vineyard:
16
And perfect the same which thy right hand hath planted: and upon the
son of man whom thou hast confirmed for thyself.
19
And we depart not from thee, thou shalt quicken us: and we will call
upon thy name.
20
O Lord God of hosts, convert us: and shew thy face, and we shall be
saved.
SECOND
READING:
Philippians 4:
6 - 9
6
Be nothing solicitous; but in every thing, by prayer and
supplication, with thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to
God.
7
And the peace of God, which surpasseth all understanding, keep your
hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8
For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever
modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely,
whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of
discipline, think on these things.
9
The things which you have both learned, and received, and heard, and
seen in me, these do ye, and the God of peace shall be with you.
GOSPEL:
Matthew 21:
33 - 43
33
Hear ye another parable. There was a man an householder, who planted
a vineyard, and made a hedge round about it, and dug in it a press,
and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen; and went into a
strange country.
34
And when the time of the fruits drew nigh, he sent his servants to
the husbandmen that they might receive the fruits thereof.
35
And the husbandmen laying hands on his servants, beat one, and killed
another, and stoned another.
36
Again he sent other servants more than the former; and they did to
them in like manner.
37
And last of all he sent to them his son, saying: They will reverence
my son.
38
But the husbandmen seeing the son, said among themselves: This is the
heir: come, let us kill him, and we shall have his inheritance.
39
And taking him, they cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed
him.
40
When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do
to those husbandmen?
41
They say to him: He will bring those evil men to an evil end; and
will let out his vineyard to other husbandmen, that shall render him
the fruit in due season.
42
Jesus saith to them: Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone
which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the
corner? By the Lord this has been done; and it is wonderful in our
eyes.
43
Therefore I say to you, that the kingdom of God shall be taken from
you, and shall be given to a nation yielding the fruits thereof.
