TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME A

TWENTY-SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 

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INTRODUCTION

October 8, 2023

Good noon/afternoon brothers and sisters in Christ.

We are now in the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

Today is the Indigenous People's Sunday and Extreme Poverty Day. Let us remember and pray for the original inhabitants of the Philippines and those who are suffering from poverty.

The first reading is taken from the Book of Prophet Isaiah. He stated that "The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his cherished plant."

The Second Reading is taken from the Letter of Paul to the Philippians. He said to them, "Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me. Then God of peace will be with you."

The Gospel is taken from the Holy Gospel according to St. Matthew. This account narrates about the Parable of the tenants.

Let us all stand to begin the Eucharistic celebration.

FIRST READING

Is. 5:1-7

The vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel.

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah

Let me now sing of my friend,

    my friend's song concerning his vineyard.

My friend had a vineyard

    on a fertile hillside;

he spaded it, cleared it of stones,

    and planted the choicest vines;

within it he built a watchtower,

    and hewed out a wine press.

Then he looked for the crop of grapes,

    but what it yielded was wild grapes.

Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah,

    judge between me and my vineyard:

What more was there to do for my vineyard

    that I had not done?

Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes,

    did it bring forth wild grapes?

Now, I will let you know

    what I mean to do with my vineyard:

take away its hedge, give it to grazing,

    break through its wall, let it be trampled!

Yes, I will make it a ruin:

    it shall not be pruned or hoed,

    but overgrown with thorns and briers;

I will command the clouds

    not to send rain upon it.

The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel,

    and the people of Judah are his cherished plant;

he looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed!

    for justice, but hark, the outcry!

The word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Ps 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20

R. (Is 5:7a) The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

A vine from Egypt you transplanted;

    you drove away the nations and planted it.

It put forth its foliage to the Sea,

    its shoots as far as the River.

R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

Why have you broken down its walls,

    so that every passer-by plucks its fruit,

the boar from the forest lays it waste,

    and the beasts of the field feed upon it?

R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

Once again, O LORD of hosts,

    look down from heaven, and see;

take care of this vine,

    and protect what your right hand has planted,

the son of man whom you yourself made strong.

R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

Then we will no more withdraw from you;

    give us new life, and we will call upon your name.

O LORD, God of hosts, restore us;

    if your face shine upon us, then we shall be saved.

R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

SECOND READING

Fil. 4:6-9

Do these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians

Brothers and sisters:

    Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,

by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

    make your requests known to God.

Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding

    will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters,

    whatever is true, whatever is honorable,

    whatever is just, whatever is pure,

    whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,

    if there is any excellence

    and if there is anything worthy of praise,

    think about these things.

Keep on doing what you have learned and received

    and heard and seen in me.

Then the God of peace will be with you.

The word of the Lord.

ALLELUIA

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

I have chosen you from the world, says the Lord,

 to go and bear fruit that will remain.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

Mt. 21:33-43

He will lease his vineyard to other tenants.

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

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."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Prayer of the Faithful

October 8, 2023

Priest: We are grateful to the Lord for this trust and generosity toward us. Let us address our petitions to Him for all the needs of mankind, the church and each of us. Let our prayer be:

LORD OF THE VINEYARD, GRACIOUSLY HEAR US.

1. That our Spiritual leaders especially Pope Francis, the Bishops, Priests, deacons and religious men and women, may be filled with the Holy Spirit to proclaim Jesus to the faithful with fidelity. Let us pray to the Lord.

2. That our civil authorities may receive the eyes that see the needs of the people, hearts, and ears to do good for the needy and to hear the voices that shout for justice in the society. Let us pray to the Lord.

3. That our missionaries and lay volunteers may receive a bountiful harvest of conversion in the nations where they exercise their ministry. Let us pray to the Lord.

4. That the indigenous people, through the Holy Spirit, be empowered to protect their ancestral lands, rich cultural heritage, and their rights as a people. Let us pray to the Lord.

5. That our parish community and our families may be enlightened by the Holy Spirit, through the help of our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, to praise God at all times and fill our hearts only with what is good, pure and holy. Let us pray to the Lord.

6. That those who praised and thank God especially __________ may become instruments of His grace to the needy. Let us pray to the Lord. 

7. That the faithful departed especially _____________ may be forgiven and live with the company of saints in heaven. Let us pray to the Lord.

Priest: Lord God, the source of our fruitfulness and hope, we thank you for all your trust and patience with us. May all our days be a hymn of praise and thanksgiving to you who live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.