Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 8, 2017

On this date 146 years ago, October 8, 1871, Wisconsin’s greatest fire calamity exploded across the northeast area of the state on both sides of the waters of Green Bay.  The above 5-acre site of the present National Champion Shrine of Our Lady of Good Help was spared along with all persons, cattle and property within the fenced area. As the fire raged, Adele Brise and her companions along with the neighbor farmers who came to join them, prayed the rosary on their knees as they made their way around the above field.  Rain came that night and extinguished the flames.  The next morning the lands surrounding were a “sea of ashes.”

Annual pilgrimages around the property continue to be held as seen in the undated photo above.  The National Champion Shrine is the only site in the United States and Canada where the Catholic Church approves as authentic that Mary, Queen of Heaven did appear.  The year was 1859 and the young Belgium immigrant girl who received the vision was Adele Brice.

I am fortunate that the National Champion Shrine is only a three-hour drive from Rhinelander.  I plan to make the trip to Champion Shrine on Monday, October 9, the 158 anniversary of Mary’s appearance to Adele in 1859.

Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, October 8, 2017
Lectionary: 139

Reading 1   ISaiah 5:1-7

Let me now sing of my friend, my friend's song concerning his vineyard.  My friend had a vineyard on a fertile hillside; he spaded it, cleared it of stones, and planted the choicest vines; within it he built a watchtower, and hewed out a wine press.  Then he looked for the crop of grapes, but what it yielded was wild grapes.

Now, inhabitants of Jerusalem and people of Judah, judge between me and my vineyard:  What more was there to do for my vineyard that I had not done?  Why, when I looked for the crop of grapes, did it bring forth wild grapes?  Now, I will let you know what I mean to do with my vineyard: take away its hedge, give it to grazing, break through its wall, let it be trampled!  Yes, I will make it a ruin: it shall not be pruned or hoed, but overgrown with thorns and briers; I will command the clouds not to send rain upon it.  The vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the people of Judah are his cherished plant; he looked for judgment, but see, bloodshed! for justice, but hark, the outcry!

Responsorial Psalm   PSalm 80:9, 12, 13-14, 15-16, 19-20

R. (Is 5:7a) The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

A vine from Egypt you transplanted;
you drove away the nations and planted it.
It put forth its foliage to the Sea,
its shoots as far as the River.

R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

Why have you broken down its walls,
so that every passer-by plucks its fruit,
The boar from the forest lays it waste,
and the beasts of the field feed upon it?

R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

Once again, O LORD of hosts,
look down from heaven, and see;
take care of this vine,
and protect what your right hand has planted
the son of man whom you yourself made strong.

R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

Then we will no more withdraw from you;
give us new life, and we will call upon your name.
O LORD, God of hosts, restore us;
if your face shine upon us, then we shall be saved.

R. The vineyard of the Lord is the house of Israel.

Reading 2   PHILippians 4:6-9

Brothers and sisters:  Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.  Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.  Keep on doing what you have learned and received and heard and seen in me.
Then the God of peace will be with you.

Alleluia  Compare to JohN 15:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I have chosen you from the world, says the Lord,
to go and bear fruit that will remain.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel  MaTthew 21:33-43

Jesus said to the chief priests and the elders of the people:  "Hear another parable.  There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a tower.  Then he leased it to tenants and went on a journey.  When vintage time drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants to obtain his produce.  But the tenants seized the servants and one they beat, another they killed, and a third they stoned.  Again he sent other servants, more numerous than the first ones, but they treated them in the same way.  Finally, he sent his son to them, thinking,  'They will respect my son.'  But when the tenants saw the son, they said to one another, 'This is the heir.  Come, let us kill him and acquire his inheritance.'
They seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.  What will the owner of the vineyard do to those tenants when he comes?"  They answered him, "He will put those wretched men to a wretched death
and lease his vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the proper times."  Jesus said to them, "Did you never read in the Scriptures:

The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?

Therefore, I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that will produce its fruit."