Mass Readings for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
- First Reading – Isaiah 5:1-7: “: 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?”
- Responsorial Psalm – Psalm 80: “The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.”
- Second Reading – Philippians 4:6-9: “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.”
- Gospel – Matthew 21:33-43: “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.”
Themes for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
The readings for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time for Year A focus on discipleship and our choice to follow Jesus or not. In the first reading Israel is warned that they must be faithful. The psalm begs God to return to the vineyard and care for it once again. The second reading encourages Christians to continue along the path that Jesus has shown us. And in the gospel Jesus tells the parable of the tenants, who rejected the landowner.
- Faithfulness
- Protection for those who speak the truth
- Bearing fruit
- Caring for the vineyards in our lives
See the Homilies and Reflections section and the More Thoughts section for further expansion on these readings and some reflection questions for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.
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Resources for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
A Prayer of Joyful Thanksgiving
This prayer based on Psalm 118, which is the responsorial psalm for this Sunday. It celebrates our salvation and expresses gratitude to God.
Have No Anxiety – Reflection and Discussion Questions
This reflection on Philippians 4:6-9 encourages youth to consider how trusting in God can alleviate fear and help us to live in freedom.
Fearful Finds Relay
In this game, players put their hands in a box of unknown substance to find coins. It is a test of if they can overcome their fear of what they might be touching. Be prepared for some funny reactions! There are also some reflection questions at the end.
Homilies and Reflections for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
In the Vineyard of the Church
Jeff Cavins offers a solution to anxiety as he reflects on the readings for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.
Freedom from Anxiety
In Philippians 4, St. Paul writes to the Philippians on the key to have freedom from anxiety. And, in his teaching on having freedom from anxiety, Paul is perfectly aligned with what Jesus taught in Matthew 6. How can you practically be free from anxiety? Brant Pitre explains.
The Lord’s Vineyard
From Bishop Robert Barron. The image of the vineyard as a representation of the people Israel. We hear that the author is going to sing a song of his “friend” and his vineyard. What becomes immediately clear is that the friend is the Lord God and the vineyard is the Lord’s holy people. This song is a love story indeed, but one that stresses the demands of love.
Living on the Vine
From Scott Hahn. God is the owner and the house of Israel is the vineyard. A cherished vine, Israel was plucked from Egypt and transplanted in a fertile land specially spaded and prepared by God, hedged about by the city walls of Jerusalem, watched over by the towering Temple.
Peace Beyond Understanding
Also from Bishop Barron. At the end of his letter to the Philippians, St. Paul reveals the secret to a peaceful life. Serenity of spirit, born of the confidence that one is linked to God, arrives when we surround ourselves with God’s truth, goodness, and beauty.
More Thoughts for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
When the Jewish leaders hear Jesus tell the parable of the wicked tenants, they know it is directed at them. Prophets were mistreated through the ages and now these leaders were seeking to arrest Jesus, who is clearly the son in this story.
Just to drive the point home, Jesus quotes Psalm 118, indicating that he knows they have rejected him, but that he is doing his Father’s will anyway. The early Christian community experienced this same rejection firsthand. In the second reading, Paul gives them encouragement, reminding them that in their time of trial they must seek the peace of Christ.
In today’s world were there often is such a lack of peace, we should remember what Paul tells us. Offer prayers of petition and thanksgiving. Be aware of what is going on in our world, but seek the peace of God’s kingdom.
Reflection Questions for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
- How do I respond to rejection?
- Is there someone I have rejected whom I need to be reconciled with?
- Do I seek peace in prayer when my world seems in turmoil?
Quotes and Social Media Graphics for the 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A
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.
Philippians 4:6-7
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