In
the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Sometimes things are not as they seem. Every so often, you probably
run into a situation where something seems off, seems different than
what you see. Maybe it is the look in a person's eye that tells you
there is more to the story. Perhaps it is the vague wording of a
press release. Something just is not what it seems.
Oftentimes that happens in our spiritual lives as well, both for good
and for bad. Today's readings give two examples of this.
The prophet Isaiah records the “Song of the Vinedresser”, where
the Lord describes the great care He expended in establishing His
vineyard, and the hope He had that it would produce abundant, rich
fruit. The Vinedresser took great cares to select the perfect piece
of land so that conditions would be just right. He picked rock and
tilled the soil. He cleared the weeds and built walls and fences. He
even built a watchtower and a winepress. When the land was ready, He
planted choice vines and tended them lovingly. He gave them all the
care and nutrients they needed. What more could He have done that He
failed to do? All that was left was to wait to enjoy the fruits of
His labor.
