27th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A – October 4, 2026
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A
This Sunday’s readings remind us that we are caretakers of the many gifts God has given us.
The tenants in today’s Gospel forgot this.
The landowner carefully prepared the vineyard. He put a fence around it, dug a winepress, and built a tower. He provided everything the tenants needed. All they had to do was take care of the vineyard and give the owner what rightfully belonged to him.
But gradually, the tenants began to think, “This is ours.”
They became greedy. They rejected the servants sent by the owner, and finally, they even killed his son.
Of course, Jesus was speaking about the history of God’s people. God sent prophets to His people, but many were rejected. Finally, He sent His own Son, Jesus, and even Jesus was rejected and put to death.
Yet here is the beautiful part: rejection was not the end of the story.
The stone that was rejected became the cornerstone. The cross became the way to resurrection. What looked like failure became victory.
And that gives us hope when we experience difficulties in our own lives.
Sometimes we may feel that God is silent. We may ask, “Why is this happening to me? Why is my family going through this? Why am I experiencing this illness, this disappointment, or this rejection?”
That is where the second reading becomes so important.
St. Paul says:
“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God.”
Paul knew what suffering was. He experienced rejection, imprisonment, beatings, danger, and many hardships. Yet he tells us not to allow anxiety to control our lives.
What is his answer?
Prayer, trust, and thanksgiving.
When we are worried, we bring our concerns to God. We don’t have to carry everything alone.
But there is also a lesson for us.
Sometimes we can forget that we are tenants, not owners.
Our life is a gift from God. Our family is a gift. Our health, our abilities, our possessions, our opportunities, and even our faith are gifts.
God gives us these things not simply to possess them, but to use them well and produce good fruit.
And what kind of fruit is God looking for?
Love. Kindness. Patience. Forgiveness. Generosity. Faith. Compassion.
That is the fruit God wants from His vineyard.
But sometimes worry and anxiety prevent us from producing that fruit. We worry about our health, our children, our finances, our families, and our future.
That is why St. Paul tells us: pray, trust God, and give thanks.
I once heard about a man who had a little prayer corner in his home. He had a cross, a candle, and a small basket. Whenever he was worried about something, he would write his concern on a small piece of paper and put it in the basket.
It was his simple way of saying:
“Lord, this is my problem. I cannot carry it alone. I place it in Your hands.”
What a beautiful way to pray.
And when we trust God, something begins to happen within us. St. Paul says:
“The peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
A grateful heart becomes a peaceful heart.
And a peaceful heart can produce good fruit.
Today is also Respect Life Sunday. Every human life is a gift from God. Every person has dignity because every person is created and loved by God. So we are called to respect, protect, and care for human life, especially those who are vulnerable and in need.
So perhaps the question for us today is very simple:
What kind of fruit am I producing in God’s vineyard?
God has entrusted each of us with a vineyard—our family, our parish, our relationships, our work, and our own life.
Let us remember we are not owners; we are caretakers.
Let us receive God’s gifts with gratitude, place our worries in His hands, and use what He has given us to produce good fruit.
And then, even in the middle of life’s difficulties, the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Amen.