The Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity - Reflection by Canon Leslie

​The Gospel for this Sunday continues directly from last Sunday’s reading. In Matthew 21: 33-46 Jesus tells the parable of the vineyard. Jesus is teaching in the temple and the chief priests and elders of the people are listening to him and still feel angry about Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem as Palm Sunday riding on a donkey and about how Jesus kicked the money changers out of the temple. The parable of the vineyard draws on established biblical imagery that sees Israel as God’s vineyard. Jesus is challenging his listeners to take care of that vineyard or else to see it handed over to new management. The parable of the vineyard presses the case for responsibility or for change. The parable annoys Jesus’ listeners even more.
 
Reinterpreted for today this parable of the vineyard reminds us of our responsibility to care for the vineyard with which God has entrusted us. To prepare for this Sunday’s service I invited those of you who want to do some thinking beforehand to focus on the image of vineyards. In today’s picture from Exploring the Parish Church, Sara and Bethan are reminding us of the close link between the vineyard, the grapes, and wine prepared for the Eucharist.
 
Next week the image to help us prepare for participation in the Sunday service, whether offline in the cathedral or online at home, is party invitation. The Gospel reading is Jesus’ parable about the King who invited guests to come to his son’s wedding banquet. You can find out more about that theme here: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. Please send us your ideas and photos of the things you may create; email them to [email protected].

We warmly invite you to join us in worship on line here:

Sara and Bethan send their Sunday greetings to all. 
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Canon Leslie
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