Homily For The 27th Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year A.

 

Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:8.11-15.17-19; Philippians 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-43.

“WHERE ARE YOUR FRUITS?”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·       God constantly uses familiar images to convey deep and heavenly realities. He uses that which we can commonly understand. The message of salvation is communicated to us using the farmer-plant-harvest relationship.

·       The Joy of every farmer at the end of every planting season is reaping a bumper harvest. He does everything humanly possible to make a good yield. He plants the best seed, seeks the best soil, and makes every arrangement to ensure a good harvest. He is devastated and broken when the yield is low.

·       On this 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the use of parables in today’s readings, especially the first reading and the gospel, is to tell us of the pains and disappointment of God when we fail to yield the expected fruit after all that has been done for us.

·       In the first reading (Isaiah 5:1-7), the Prophet Isaiah tells the people a story about themselves, but they never knew. They passed judgment on themselves without knowing it. We too must be careful when we judge others because we might just be judging ourselves.

·       The first reading makes us understand that we are the new Israel and we have been wired to be fruitful. God has provided for us all that it takes to be a good Christian and to serve him and our neighbour well. The question we must ask ourselves is, how fruitful have I been, given all the opportunities I have been given?

·       We are God’s chosen vines, and he wants us to be productive. He wants our faith and Christianity to be contagious and strong enough to convert the world. Of what use is your faith if it does not affect you and the environment positively?

·       The Lord is running out of patience with us; our time here on earth is limited; therefore, we must make it count. We must use our time well now so that when the harvest time comes, the Lord will see results.

·       Dearly beloved in Christ, the consequence of not being fruitful and doing what is expected of us as Christians is really grave, so we really have no option but to do that which is expected of us, which is to be fruitful!

·       The gospel reading (Matthew 21:33-43), on the other hand, tells us that we are seeds planted by the Lord himself and we are expected to bear good fruits. Fruits of peace, joy, love, forgiveness, humility, etc. Unfortunately, rather than being good seeds bearing good fruits, we have become cantankerous tenants whose job is to kill and destroy.

·       We must ask ourselves today, on what side of the divide do we belong? After all, the scriptures tell us that “by their fruit, we shall know them” (Matt. 7:16). Whenever we refuse to bear good fruit, we are like those tenants who killed the only begotten son of God.

·       Dearly beloved in Christ, God has given us so much, and God, in return, expects so much from us; we must be fruitful, and we must bear good fruit that is commensurate with the opportunities given to us. So that we do not miss the promise of God's kingdom.

·       Fruitfulness attracts while unfruitfulness irritates and repels. When we become fruitful, we ourselves will begin to enjoy God's benevolence and blessings. Through our own fruitfulness, others are challenged to be fruitful.

·       The Second reading (Philippians 4:6-9) makes it categorically clear that once our Christian lives become true and fruitful, then we need not worry because whatever we ask of the Lord, as long as it is good and noble, he will grant it to us.

·       However, these things may be delayed, but we must rest assured that they will be granted. So, we must keep praying, keep trusting, and keep hoping, knowing that yes, the Lord may, humanly speaking, come late, but when he comes, he comes Big!

·       Friends in Christ, the Lord is singing to us a love poem in the first reading (Isaiah 5:1-7), using the experience of our fathers in faith to warn us. We must not fall into the same trap of barrenness and hopelessness.

·       When we refuse to be fruitful, we must realise that there will be judgment at the end of the day. So, we must learn to make hay while the sun is still shining. We must ask ourselves as Christians: Am I being fruitful? What kind of seed am I bearing? What are my Christian fruits?

·       We must not take the expectation of the Lord for granted because much is expected of us, and that is why the Psalmist tells us that “the vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel” (Is. 5:7). Therefore, the Lord expects a plentiful and bumper harvest from us.

·       May the good Lord bless us, give us the grace to take our Christian commitment seriously, and bear good fruits- fruits that will last- through Christ our Lord. Amen!

·       Happy Sunday!!!