Sunday’s Reflection:  It is essential when approaching this passage, Matthew 21:33-46, that we know that where we are in the arc of the gospel. Jesus is preaching directly to the Pharisees, chief priests, and other temple elites who, in the same chapter, he cursed for turning the Temple into a den of robbers.
The parable begins with a situation that was business as usual in Roman-occupied Palestine. A landowner established a vineyard complete with a fence, a wine-press, and even a watchtower. He then became an absentee landowner, returning to his own country as often happened in the territories of the Roman Empire. Tenants oversaw the productivity of the vineyard and paying their rent to the owner at harvest time, in the form of a share of the produce. So far, so good: business was working as usual. Then everything came apart!
Here is the punch line. Jesus asks his audience (the chief priests and elders), ⁴⁰ Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” The answer is obvious, and the tenants offer it: ⁴¹ They said to him, ‘He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.’” What do you think the consequences will be for a community as a whole because of rejecting our Lord?

Vicar’s Note:  Next week, we will have our thanksgiving Sunday celebration. Canadian Thanksgiving is a time which we celebrate the harvest festival and other blessings… This is important to many Canadians because it is also a time to gather with family and loved ones. Our church invites you and your family to come to our church services and pray together in this uniquely different time. We hope to have a meaningful worship service that will inspire your faith and know that God is with us no matter what we are all going through right now. ¹⁸ Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Ephesians 6:18  

We will re-start our mid-week prayer and bible study on Wednesday, 5:30-6:30pm, via zoom. For our initial conversation, we will focus on Luke 17:11-19. Our Thanksgiving Sunday gospel lesson. Zoom coordinates will be sent out to all our parishioners.