Father David Herrera - Oct 4

St. Philip Catholic Church: In today's reading is one of those that really connects the first reading with the gospel because in a way we have seen how the Lord gave everything to the people of Israel. But he provided everything for the people in Israel we hear on the first reading, everything that was necessary for them to give good fruits. But what happens? Unfortunately they were unable to provide any good fruits. And even it questions, Was there something else that I could have done in order for them to produce good fruits? But the answer is no. The people of Israel had everything that God w that God had given them, but their hearts did not open to the Lord. They did not return his love, his faithfulness, his goodness. Instead, instead of that, they just rejected him and disobeyed him again and again and again. And instead of God being like, you know what, that's that is it, God continued to be faithful to the people. In today's gospel we see how even He sends the pe He sends different people to the vineyard. And what happens is the administrators have forgotten that they were not the owners. The administrators, instead of of being administrators, took that role of I own this. And they have become possessive of it. So what happens when the owner sends his son? They kill him. They kill also all the messengers before that. They do the same thing. Their hearts were closed. They weren't open to God's grace. They were forgotten that they were just the administrators. My brothers and sisters, this passage is not only about Israel but also about our lives. The Lord has given us the gift of life. He has provided enough for us to be fruitful. The question for each of us is our hearts open. Are we responding to God? Have we forgotten that it was God who created us? That it was because He paid the price of the cross that we are able to bear good fruit, that we are able to have a relationship with Him? Have we become possessive of our lives and gifts that God has given us? Have we lost sight of God in our lives? See, the problem begins when we forget that we are stewards and begin to live as owners. It is my family, I own my family, God has no place in it. Faith becomes just another box to check. Replying just on me because I work, relying just on me because I work so hard for this. And I didn't saw God's hand helping me out build everything that I have done. Even in the church, it happens in the in the different ministries. This is my ministry. No one can take charge of my ministry. Others' opinion don't matter. I build this from the ground up, so it is what it is. It is my my way that I do it. It has worked for so many years. I build this ministry, this ownership thing. Why should I be merciful or compassionate to others if they don't deserve it? Or why should I do that when I haven't seen the compassion and merciful of others? But see, we forgot that God Has been merciful, compassionate, loving to us first. So the question is, what are the fruits God is asking in my in my life, in the vineyard that He has entrusted me? And the answer is basically He's asking for the same. He's asking to love others just as He has loved us. He has forgiven us, so we must also forgive. He has been faithful, so we must also remain faithful to him. He has been generous, so we must also be generous. He gave his life for us, for us to also learn how to give our life for him and for others. In your marriage, he has been faith about being faithful to your spouse espouse by heart, words, and actions. To offer forgiveness, sacrifice, and love. Those are the fruits that we must bear in the marriage. In your family, teaching your children to pray, bringing them to mass, giving them your time, showing them by your example that God matters. In the church, some of the fruits are serving rather than possessing, building unity rather than division, welcoming others, sharing your gifts, inviting to pray. people to the same encounter that you had with Christ. Let us not forget, brothers and sisters, that the world rejected Christ and killed him. But that was not the end of the story. He died for our sins and became the cornerstone of our faith. And it is because of that that we can still bear good fruit in our lives. And it is not late for us. The story still doesn't end for us. Our faith journey is still continu. Maybe your marriage has not produced the fruit it should have. Start again. You have another chance. Start again. Maybe you have neglected your relationship with with God. It is time to go ahead and start again. Maybe you have treated your gifts as possessions. Rather than gifts entrusted to you. Start again. Start again by using them as gifts rather than possessions. Maybe you have not served the church or your neighbor as you should. Start again. There is still hope because the vineyard still belongs to God and he has not stopped working on it. Let us not wait until the end. Brothers and sister, if the Lord came looking today for the fruit in his venture, for the fruits of the venture that he has entrusted you, what will he find?