Catholic Identity
Jake Wilkinson, Leader of Religious Education & Catholic Identity
Gospel reading
Gospel Matthew 21:33–43
Jesus said:
“Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country.
When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.
Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way.
Finally he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.’ So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.
Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?”
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.”
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the scriptures:
‘The stone that the builders rejectedhas become the cornerstone;this was the Lord’s doing,and it is amazing in our eyes’?
Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom.”
Summary
In this parable, Jesus tells the story of a landowner who carefully prepares a vineyard and trusts it to tenants. When the landowner sends servants to collect the harvest, the tenants mistreat and kill them. Finally, he sends his own son, believing they will respect him, but they kill him too.
The vineyard represents God’s Kingdom and the gifts God has entrusted to his people. The servants remind us of the prophets whom God sent to guide his people, while the landowner’s son points to Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus knows that he too will be rejected, but rejection and death will not have the final word. Jesus becomes the cornerstone on which God builds something new.
The Gospel challenges us to consider what we are doing with the gifts, responsibilities and opportunities God has entrusted to us. God calls us not simply to receive his love but to bear good fruit through our actions — showing compassion, forgiveness, justice, generosity and love towards others.
Reflection Questions
1. What has God entrusted to me, and how am I using these gifts to bring love, hope and kindness to others?
2. Jesus describes himself as the cornerstone. How can I make Christ a stronger foundation for the decisions I make and the way I treat others?
Prayer
Loving God,
You have given us many giftsand entrusted us with the care of one another.
Help us to recognise Jesus as the cornerstone of our lives.
May his words guide our choices,his compassion shape the way we treat others,and his example inspire us to serve.
Give us the courage to produce good fruitthrough kindness, forgiveness, justice and love.
When we turn away from you,gently lead us back to your presenceand help us build our lives firmly upon Christ.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Reconciliation
Sacraments of Reconciliation starts this Wednesday night 6:30pm at St Kilians' Hall. Available for any student who has been Baptised. Please see the office this week if you would like your child to participate in sacraments this year.
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