Listen again to the words of Isaiah:

Then he looked for the crop of grapes,
but what it yielded was wild grapes.

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

My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,

If you notice, the landowner looked for a good crop. He expected it. He did everything necessary to bring about a good crop. And, he asks a very important question. —Why did it bring forth wild grapes?—

He moves right from the question to the action. —Now, I will let you know what I mean to do with my vineyard—

What’s missing?

We should see it very easily. It is the unanswered question. Where does the blame lie? The landowner asked the question, —Why did it bring forth wild grapes?— Doesn’t he deserve an answer?

Look sir, perhaps it was the soil, the fertilizer, the type of grapes (they’re not right for the climate). Maybe it was the workers or the foreman —“ he had crazy ideas about how you should grow grapes.

What’s missing is the blame. But, Isaiah and Jesus did not have to lay blame. The expected results were known because God is the landowner. He has given every opportunity and every good thing to His people. The people of Isaiah’s time and Jesus’ time are our living, breathing, cautionary tale.

The cautionary tale has three components.

The first caution is that we must know that we have been given every good thing. The Gospel is our instruction book. The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ is our food and strength. And, within us, we have the constant, unconquerable desire for God. God, thank you for these gifts. They are all we need. Caution! Remember that God gives us all we need.

The second caution is that we must trust. Maybe our life situation is not exactly to our liking. Maybe our family and friends are less than we expect. Maybe we have experienced tragedy and sorrow. Maybe everything is honky-dory and we are successful, rich, blessed, and happy.

Regardless, of the circumstances, can we place our complete trust and faith in God? Jesus gave us the instruction, not a blade of grass withers or a bird falls from the sky without His Father’s knowledge. God, our trust is in you alone. You are the center and purpose of our life, not just in the big picture, but every minute of every day. Caution! We better trust in God alone.

The third caution is that we must act. Frankly, you need to be a radical. We are not here to adjust to our environment or to make compromise, but to deliver all and everything to Christ the Universal King in accord with His teaching and that of the Church.

—Teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you—

When you wake in the morning, give thanks for the gifts of the day. For food which is real food unto eternal life, for the Word, for the Gospel. Give thanks for your joys and your sorrows. In your next breath, resolve once again to place your full trust, your full faith and credit in Jesus Christ.

The world will not take kindly to you as a radical for Christ. Our Lord promised us, —You shall be hated by all for my name’s sake— But, caution! Act in accord with Christ and His Church.

We can believe Jesus and we can learn from these cautions, trusting in the reward He promises, or we can heed his admonition.

—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.”

Let us reflect and pray.

Lord, grant us your grace. We ask only for this, for you love us completely and give us all we need. We thank You for what you give us. Inspire us to thank You more and more. Give us the grace to put You first and to fully trust in You. Do not let us be tempted to lay blame but inspire us to act in union with You and Your Church.

Amen.